LITERARY PROTEST
Who is Banu Mushtaq? First Kannada author to win International Booker Prize 2025
Banu Mushtaq (Google Trends): Banu Mushtaq, a trailblazing Kannada writer, has become the first author in her language to win the International Booker Prize, alongside translator Deepa Bhasthi, for Heart Lamp. At 77, her storytelling—rooted in caste, gender, and power—has gained global attention. The award celebrates both her literary brilliance and Kannada’s reach. From middle-school writing to activism-fuelled narratives, her life reflects a quiet defiance against patriarchy and orthodoxy, making Heart Lamp not just a book, but a cultural milestone.
Bengal renaissance with Didi's rhymes
This year's award went to Mamata Banerjee for her 2020 'Kabita Bithan' (Poetry Collection). Every poet in West Bengal (read: every Bengali) barring Banerjee fans are raging in rhyme.
Tamil novelist Vairamuthu will 'return' ONV Kurup literary prize amid #MeToo accusations
Singer Chinmayi Sripada had accused Vairamuthu of sexual harassment.
Assam Government announces grant to literary bodies
The Chief Minister announced that the state government would provide Rs 10 crore to the Corpus Fund of Asom Sahitya Sabha, Rs 5 crore to Bodo Sahitya Sabha and Rs 3 crore each to the other indigenous Sahitya Sabhas as a one time grant.
Masti Rangamandira theatres set for revival
The Rangamandira is named after Jnanpith awardee Masti Venkatesha Iyengar, who authored 123 books in Kannada & 17 in English over seventy years.
My protest against intolerance continues: Nayantara Sahgal
"My protest and that of other writers continues against the continuing attacks on freedom of expression," Sahgal wrote to secretary of the Akademi.
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US raises issue of Kalburgi murder and protests by literary community
US praised India for its tolerance and resilience amid rising incidents of terrorism, while also raising the issue of the murder of Kannada writer MM Kalburgi.
'Award wapsi' an immature step, says Jnanpith awardee
Veteran Gujarati litterateur Raghuveer Chaudhary, chosen for the prestigious Jnanpith Award for 2015, has termed as an "immature step" the returning of awards.
Awards launched: Intolerance to dominate this year's Bangalore Literature Festival
Introduction of literary awards in three categories -fiction, nonfiction and literary achievement in Kannada -will be the other highlight.
No indication of intolerance on ground in India: Arun Jaitley
Jaitley had dismissed the protest over intolerance as a "manufactured paper rebellion" that was politically motivated.
Raise India's growing intolerance with Modi: Writers to David Cameron
Booker Prize winner Rushdie and other well- known names like Ian McEwan and Hari Kunzru are among the signatories of an open letter to Cameron.
Authors urge Sahitya Akademi to reinvent itself
Writers wrote to the National Academy of Letters urging it to build on the resolution passed and respond in a 'strong, humane and robust' manner to situations.
Perumal Murugan in trouble again as fringe outfits demand cancellation of award
Fringe caste outfits and right-wing organisations are now threatening to snatch away a literary award the writer has won.
Sahitya Akademi breaks its silence, passes resolution condemning killing of writers
Akademi stressed the need to protect India’s plural culture but sidestepped demands from protesters for holding a condolence meet for Kalburgi in Delhi.
Marathi writers visit Mantralaya to return literary awards
A group of Marathi writers today went to Mantralaya, the state secretariat here, to return their literary awards to protest the 'culture of intolerance' in the country.
Sahitya Akademi condemns writer's killing, appeals to take back awards
Condemning the killing of writer MM Kalburgi, Sahitya Akademi passed a unanimous resolution appealing to Union and state governments to prevent such incidents.
Writers, Pakistan have common goal of creating Modi-phobia: RSS organ
RSS organ 'Organiser' has said these forms of protests by writers and Pakistan have a common goal of creating phobia against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Why the writers and thinkers of India face a critical Nirbhaya moment
For the literary circle in the country that is returning its awards and resigning from representative bodies, it is the Nirbhaya moment.
Now Kashmiri writer Ghulam Nabi Khayal returns Sahitya Akademi award
Ghulam Nabi Khayal also criticized Prime Minster Narendra Modi for his 'delayed reaction' over the Dadri lynching incident.
Sahitya Akademi resignations: Fair choice if quitting due to ideology, says Culture Minister Mahesh Sharma
Sharma felt this was not the right course to take, making the point that there were “other methods” to register a protest.
Speak up on 'communal frenzy', Kashmiri writers to Akademi
The president of Adbee Markaz Kamraz (AMK), a body of 25 literary and cultural organizations from north Kashmir, Shujaat Bukhari, said in a statement here, "They are people with conscience and they have spoken the language of heart."
K Satchidanandan quits Sahitya Akademi posts, says it has failed in its duty
K Satchidanandan resigned from all committees of the Sahitya Akademi saying the literary body had "failed" in its duty.
Dadri lynching: Urdu writer Rahman Abbas to return award in protest
Urdu novelist Rahman Abbas will return the Maharashtra State Urdu Sahitya Academy Award as a mark of protest against the Dadri lynching incident.
Shashi Deshpande resigns from Sahitya Akademi panel in protest
Shashi Deshpande resigned from the Sahitya Akademi General Council expressing "a sense of strong disappointment" over the literary body's silence on the killing of Kannada writer M M Kalburgi.
Dadri incident: Urdu writer Rahman Abbas to return award in protest
Abbas had in 2011 won the award for his third novel Khuda Ke Saaye Mein Aankh Micholi (Hide-and Seek in the Shadow of God).
Writers politicising the literary body: Sahitya Akademi chief
The Akademi reacted by accusing the writers of politicising the autonomous body.
Don't politicise Sahitya Akademi: Chairperson Tiwari
The literary body's president said authors should "adopt a different way to protest" and not politicise the autonomous body.
Too many dharnas and literary fests can be exhausting for all
There can be too much of a good thing is a truism that bolsters law of diminishing marginal returns. When there is an excess of choice, audiences can either be impressed or scared off.
Salman Rushdie in Delhi, attends function
Two months after he was forced to skip a literary fest in Jaipur, controversial writer Salman Rushdie tonight attended a function here amid tight security.
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