Champa to return Pampa award

Noted kannada writer and critic Chandrashekar Patil (Champa) has decided to return back the Pampa award conferred on him, as a mark of protest against the recent assassination of rationalist Dr M M Kalburgi.

Speaking with Deccan Herald here on Sunday, Champa said he would meet Chief Minister Siddaramiah on Monday and return back the award.

It is a mark of protest against the foul murder. It is a small gesture from my side as a writer. This is not against the government nor the police who are doing an investigation. It is against the culprits who are behind the heinous act of spreading communal hatred,” he said.

Patil was of the opinion that a people’s movement must start and the mentality of the people must change. “A social and cultural movement should happen. People should be educated about secularism, scientific temperament and there has to be freedom to speak and write. We should reach out to people and this will be a long-term process. The so-called intellectuals and writers have to come together and get down to some action,” he added. The change has to happen from the ground level, he believed.