Marathi writer returns state award to protest intolerance

PramodMunghate, a professor of Marathi at the RSTM Nagpur University here, today said he had returned a literary award given by the Maharashtra government with the prize money of Rs10,000 to protest "atmosphere of intolerance".
Several writers across the country, including a few from Maharashtra, have returned their government awards in the recent weeks to protest 'rising intolerance' in the wake of the murder of Kannada scholar-writer M M Kalburgi and the Dadri lynching incident.
Munghate,who heads the Post Graduate teaching departmentof Marathi at the university, had received the award in 1994 for his book '1857: Truth and Fiction'.
He is also known for his work on 'Jhadi-Patti' theatre ofVidarbha.

In a letter addressed to the Chief Minister, he said he was pained by the atmosphere of intolerance which was spreading in the country and the state.
"By returning the award, Icondemnthe state government which has failed to preserve the diversity and harmony which has been Indian society's true strength," he said.