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Journalism of Courage
Urdu scholar and author Gopi Chand Narang,chosen for Pakistans third highest civilian honour Sitara-i-Imtiaz,has been urged by a section of academics not to accept the meaningless award in light of recent events which have affected Indo-Pak ties.
In a letter to the Prime Minister,several academics from Delhi University,Jawaharlal Nehru University and Ambedkar University appealed to the government not to grant permission to Narang to go to Islamabad to receive the award.
However,Narang 82 said he would not be able to go to Pakistan to receive the award due to ill health but regretted that the issue was being politicised. He said the controversy would not stop him from accepting the award here. A former president of Sahitya Akademi,Narangs name figured in the list of Pakistans national award recipients announced on the eve of the countrys independence day in August 2012. The investiture ceremony for the awards is scheduled for March 23 this year Pakistans National Day.
Considering the recent series of incidents8230; it does not seem wise to receive any honour from such a government8230;, said Khalaid Alvi,Head of Urdu department,Zakir Hussain College,University of Delhi.
