Recently social sector has been, systematically, targeted. Literature and culture have become target of calculated attacks which made me concerned and restless. Wonderful human achievements of literature, culture, history and all forms of arts have been condemned and distorted.
It may be said that the trend has not been something new and that such things have happened for long. This is true that in recent decades none of the governments have clean slate on this account.
Still it need to be differentiated that earlier governments ignored such, occasional, incidents under unfortunate politics of vote bank but, generally, avoided being overt or covert agent provocateur. Now it has become crystal clear that violent retrogressive forces dictating terms in the field of literature and culture are implementing undeclared agenda of present regime. The situation demands that every sane person should think and respond seriously.
We, appropriately, expected Sahit Academy to express concerns when publishers were being forced to withdraw books, writers were threatened and hunted down in their homes. Instead of calling a meeting to address the problem, academy took shelter in rules and traditions to justify its silence. In this situation I am pained and feel choice-less to return Sahit Academy Award I was conferred in 2005 as a Punjabi writer.
In the end I want to make it clear that despite the vicious atmosphere I am hopeful. I have confidence that despite serious setbacks, people will come stronger and sail across the darkness and so will literature and culture. Refreshed vigorous efforts will help us move forward on sustainable path of development.
Gurbachan Singh Bhullar
(The author has authorized the translation by Daljit Ami)
इंकलाबी सलाम, साथी ।
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