Inviting all for an evening of discussion on "Climate of Intolerance and role of writers and poets".
Authors, poets and artistes continue to return national/state awards and resign from the Sahitya Akademi to protest the institution’s silence on attacks against writers and intellectuals. Several writers in India have relinquished awards from one of the country’s top literary institutions over the past week, in a symbolic show of protest against what they say is a growing disregard for freedom of speech under the government of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. More than 41 authors have handed back major honors in a stand against ‘vicious assaults’ on cultural diversity. Noted authors from Telangana – Bhoopal Reddy and Prof Katyayani Vidmahe have also returned their awards to mark their protest against the climate of intolerance.
Lamakaan holds this discussion on the growing intolerance in the country and role of writers and poets to country such climate. The awards returnee Bhoopal Reddy and Prof Katyayani Vidmahe will present their opinion and interact with the audiences.
About Bhoopal Reddy: M. Bhoopal Reddy (born 1959) is a Telugu language writer and actor. He won the 2011 Kendra Sahitya Akademi Awards for Children's Literature for his work, Uggu Paalu, a compilation of 90 children stories. Bhoopal Reddy has written over 19 books. He also wrote Kotta Bag, Komaram Bheem, Gudugudu Gunchem and Vastava Potava were among the child lietrature and songs written by Reddy. He was a stage artist and acted in movies like Komaram Bheem and Daasi. He is the recipient of Kendra Sahitya Akademi Awards for Children's Literature - Uggu Paalu – 2011. He also got newly-formed Telangana state govt. award for his contribution towards separate statehood movement. He returned both central and state governments' awards and rewards. He happens to be the first writer in Telangana state to return the awards. He returned state award in opposition to the Telangana government's FAKE encounter in which two young Telangana separate statehood activists (who later joined Maoists out of disillusionment due to Telangana govt's pro-elite policies) were killed by the Telangana govt. As far as Sahitya Akademi award is concerned, he returned the award in protest against the growing intolerance towards minorities and attacks/killings of writers/atheists.
About Prof Katyayani Vidmahe: Prof Katyayani Vidmahe is a noted litterateur and professor of Telugu Literature at the Telugu Department, Kakatiya University, Waranagal. She has been declared the winner of the Kendra Sahitya Akademi Award for Telugu-2013 for her work Sahityakashamlo Sagam- Streela Asthitwa Sahityam– Kavitwam– Katha, a compilation of essays published in 2010. Born in Mailavaram village of Addanki in Prakasam district in 1955, Prof. Katyayani had completed her education in Warangal and Hyderabad. A gold medalist in MA Telugu in 1977 from Kakatiya University, her literary career spans more than two decades. She has to her credit 275 research papers on Telugu literature, besides 28 published books and 25 books as an editor. Though her original name is Ketavarapu Katyayani, she is identified in literary circles with her pen name Katyayani ‘Vidmahe’. She started her teaching career in 1977 at Kakatiya University, where she pursued her PhD on the famous Telugu novel Chivaraku Migiledi. Joining in the chorus of protest by the writers' community, Vidmahe said she was returning her Sahitya Akademiaward in protest against "the growing intolerance in the country". She is the second author to return the award from the Telugu land.
About Laltu: Dr. Harjinder Singh, who is perhaps better known by his pen name ‘Laltu’ is a prolific writer and scientist. Laltu is a Hindi poet and writer. He has published five poetry collections and a short story collection, and a few works for children and translations. He also writes commentaries on contemporary affairs and is associated with grassroots movements. He is a scientist and he teaches at IIIT-H. His biography is available here in hindi language. http://faculty.iiit.ac.in/~laltu/ http://faculty.iiit.ac.in/~laltu/hindi.html http://faculty.iiit.ac.in/~laltu/articles-and-book-reviews-English.html
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