And the lady refuses!

I know, friends this is little late.

On January 17, media was splashed with the news that Arundhatti Roy had refused to accept the Sahitya Akademi Award. True to her style. This action of the writer has created a debate within the literary circles. While one section seconds Roy's decision, the other section claims that she is doing this to attract attention towards her for Sahiyta Akademi has nothing to do with the policies of the Government for it is an autonomous body. This section also goes on to give the name of activists like Mahasweta Devi who have, before Roy, accepted this awards. Well following is the writers explanation on why she took the step. Read and decide.

Celebrated writer Arundhati Roy on Saturday refused to accept the prestigious Sahitya Akademi Award in protest against the Indian Government toeing the US line by "violently and ruthlessly pursuing policies of brutalisation of industrial workers, increasing militarisation and economic neo-liberalisation". "I have a great deal of respect for the Sahitya Akademi, for the members of this year's Jury and for many of the writers who have received these awards in the past. But to register my protest and reaffirm my disagreement. Indeed my absolute disgust with these policies of the Indian Government, I must refuse to accept the 2005 Sahtiya Akademi Award", Arundhati said in a statement here.