It's a writer's call to return or retain Sahitya award, not RSS'

Throwing out words on social media is extremely easy, opinions are confetti and spectators always seem to know everything.

Whether one agrees or disagrees with their stance, it is very small and mean to question writers who are returning their awards, whatever their reasons and their timings are. At least, they are not silent. Anyway, they are not answerable to anyone.

It is similarly mean (and actually idiotic) to question writers like me who have not returned their Sahitya Akademi award, because I have a mind and you cannot make me feel guilty when I am not feeling so. You can't also assume that I am in agreement with the current regime. I am wholly, unconditionally against them. I am not answerable to anyone either.

Those who are smugly posting from smartphones from fancy media or publishers' offices or from high-end universities would do well to keep in mind that all of us are not financially secure and might not have the prize money left to return (I would find it a little absurd to return my prize without the money that came with it) the awards.

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) thugs did not give me the award. At the time, I had a warm conversation with UR Ananthamurthy to whom I expressed reservations about accepting it. He said these awards should give writers more strength to keep writing on, against and about whatever we felt strongly about.

Shashi Deshpande and Koyamparambath Satchidanandan resigning from their respective posts in the Sahitya Akademi is VERY different from awards being returned. They are protesting the Akademi's failure to protest. One can just applaud that the spirit is alive inside the Akademi since its own members are protesting. Their integrity is unquestionable.

(This post first appeared in Rupa Bajwa's Facebook page.)