Here are the 33 writers who returned their Sahitya Akademi awards

Baldev S Sadaknama, 73(Punjabi)Sadaknama’s journey has criss-crossed professions and cities. Born in village Chand Nawaan, Moga, Punjab, he taught at government schools in Punjab and Himachal Pradesh, before moving to Kolkata where he spent 18 years working as a truck cleaner, taxi driver and truck operator. He returned to Punjab in 1985 and began writing about his experiences on the road under the column Sadaknama in Amrita Pritam’s magazine Nagmani. Sadaknama later became his alias, and the stories in his column were compiled into a three-volume novel. He has written over 55 novels. His novel Annadaata, about the plight of farmers in Punjab, is part of Punjabi literature curriculum in Guru Nanak Dev University and Punjabi University. He won the Sahitya Akademi award in 2011 for Dhahwan Dilli De Kingre.

I protested because: “The Akademi has not spoken up when needed. It’s a family, and if any member is hurt, other members need to help. I earn my living through my writings, pay my tax, and want to write freely without any threat. I am returning the award to ensure that freedom, respect.”