Leading Punjabi writer Dalip Kaur Tiwana to return Padma Shri

CHANDIGARH: In protest against the attempts to put gag on freedom of expression, Punjab’s foremost woman writer Dalip Kaur Tiwana has announced to return the Padma Shri, fourth highest civilian award, she was conferred with in 2004. She was also awarded the Sahitya Akademi in 1971. She is the 12th writer to give up her award in the last three days.
“In this land of Gautama Buddha and Guru Nanak Dev, the atrocities committed on the Sikhs in 1984 and on the Muslims recurrently because of communalism are an utter disgrace to our state and society.And to kill those who stand for truth and justice put us to shame in the eyes of the world and God. In protest, therefore, I return the Padma Shri award,” Dalip Kaur Tiwana said in a statement.
READ ALSO: 11 more return Akademi awards, Salman Rushdie joins chorus
She added that she took the decision to also express solidarity with Nayantara Sahgal and other writers who are protesting against the increasing communalization of the society and polity.
READ ALSO: Kashmiri writer returns Sahitya Akademi award
A widely translated writer, Tiwana retired as professor of Punjabi, and dean, Faculty of Languages from the Punjabi University in Patiala.
She has 27 novels and seven collections of short stories to her credit. Most of her works are on women, her best known work is her 1969 novel ‘Aho Hamara Jiwan Hai’ (This is our life).