Opinion A draft undertaking to prevent award wapsi
Parliamentary panel has suggested that recipients of state awards promise that they won't return them. Here is what the undertaking should say
Opposition leaders protest inside the Parliament complex. (Express Photo: Anil Sharma) 
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“Oh ho,” the apolitical middle-class Indian laments, as yet another session of Parliament is mired in logjams, “there’s just too much political polarisation”. Why can’t, citizens justifiably ask, leaders put aside ideological differences and work together?
Fikar not. Able legislators from across political parties have come together to tackle a menace plaguing their bosses. No, it’s not to discuss accountability for the atrocities in Manipur, or tomato prices, or the reasons for “award wapsi”.
In 2015, several writers, artists and academics who had been awarded Sahitya Akademi prizes began returning them. Growing intolerance, lynchings, and then the murder of scholar M M Kalburgi were some of the reasons writers registered their protests, by returning their honour. The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture sprung into action and after a deep dive into the matter, came up with an elegant solution. According to its report, tabled in Parliament earlier this week, all future awardees must sign an “undertaking” promising not to return their awards for political reasons.
Below, a draft of the proposed undertaking — and a vaccine against ED-NIA-IT notices, if you will — which shall keep a political master regardless of party affiliation happy with an awardee.
Note: In case of multiple options, please check appropriate ruling party’s website before choosing
- I, the undersigned, am grateful to honourable [PM/CM/HM/Other Minister/Party leader] Shri [fill leader name] ji and [fill in name of most likely successor] ji for the honour of the Award. Under your leadership, the [state/region/country] has reached new heights, which has not been seen since [75 years/1200 years] of economy, politics, culture and all other walks of life.
- I want to assure and reassure the concerned authorities that I understand the role of a writer and artist. It is to highlight all good things the government is doing – sahitya is about sahayog with sarkar. I further promise that I will only follow [indic civilisational ideas/liberal democratic constitutionalism/scientific socialism/principles of social justice] and not other alien, evil ideas. These ideas belong to the past not to [New India/name of state].
- I undertake that I will never reflect on the harsh realities of [India/state concerned]. Police atrocities, political hypocrisy, caste and class oppression, workers’ rights, minorities’ discrimination, the unreason of religion – these are not things writers and artists should concern themselves with.
- A caveat to the previous point: In case it helps my chances, as an awardee, I will praise the current government/party in power, and point out how your opponents were terrible.
- Finally, and obviously, I undertake that I will never return the award in protest. After all, the right to protest – to freedom of speech and expression – isn’t something an artist needs right? I will not tell truth to power. Instead, honourable leaders, I will lie for those in power. For, clearly, that is what the new political class believes my role to be.
Signed
(Award nominee)
[Full Name]
aakash.joshi@expressindia.com
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