10 November,2015 08:17 AM IST | | PTI
Pramod Munghate, a professor of Marathi at the RSTM Nagpur University here, today said he had returned a literary award given by the Maharashtra government with the prize money of Rs 10,000 to protest atmosphere of intolerance
Nagpur: Pramod Munghate, a professor of Marathi at the RSTM Nagpur University here, today said he had returned a literary award given by the Maharashtra government with the prize money of Rs 10,000 to protest "atmosphere of intolerance".
Several writers across the country, including a few from Maharashtra, have returned their government awards in the recent weeks to protest 'rising intolerance' in the wake of the murder of Kannada scholar-writer M M Kalburgi and the Dadri lynching incident.
Munghate, who heads the Post Graduate teaching department of Marathi at the university, had received the award in 1994 for his book '1857: Truth and Fiction'.
He is also known for his work on 'Jhadi-Patti' theatre of Vidarbha.
In a letter addressed to the Chief Minister, he said he was pained by the atmosphere of intolerance which was spreading in the country and the state.
"By returning the award, I condemn the state government which has failed to preserve the diversity and harmony which has been Indian society's true strength," he said.
