By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, November 22, 2015 : Celebrated writer and poet Jayant Mahapatra has written to President Pranab Mukherjee, on Sunday belatedly expressed his desire to return his Padma Shri award in protest against what he called the growing “moral asymmetry” in the country.

In his letter to the President on Saturday, Mahapatra — the 2009 Padmashri winner — said, “Mine is a small, insignificant step. But it is my personal way of showing protest to the growing asymmetry that is evident in the country. I express my desire to return the award…My act should not be considered as any kind of dishonor to the country,” he said.

The 88-year-old poet received the civilian award in 2009 for his contribution to the field of literature.

Mahapatra is one of the most prominent contemporary poets of India known for his distinct poetic style and regarded as founders of Indian English Poetry. He has written as many as 27 books including seven in Odia and rest in English.

“I feel writers and poets are no longer first class citizens in the country. I believe our freedom is being curtailed. I thought for a long time but some incident hurt me so much and I decided to return the award. Every day something is coming out in the paper. You cannot eat this or you cannot eat that. This hurt me”, he remarked.

Mahapatra said he was hurt by the government’s inaction on the recent incidents including the Dadri lynching as well as utterances and actions of several politicians, including Tamil Nadu CM Jayalaithaa.

“My protest is not against a particular party. I am as much hurt by Dadri issue, Jayalaithaa’s police arresting Kovan as well as utterances of Assam Governor on Hindustan (being) for Hindus. I believe there is genuine curtailment of freedom,” he said.

He further said “I have nothing to do with those who returned Sahitya Akademi awards. I did not even speak to them. It’s a small voice from an 88-year-old man and may not solve the problem.”

He is the first one from Odisha to join the growing brigade of luminaries from different fields to return their awards to the government.

Jnanapitha Award winner Pratibha Ray said, “Writers should always express their anguish and protest through their writings. Returning awards is not a solution to any problem. I am a rebel and want to express it in my own words.”

Interestingly, two years ago, the 87-year-old had donated his Padma Shri award, his Sahitya Akademi award, and several state literary awards, along with over 4,000 books, to the heritage library of Fakir Mohan University in Balasore district, where he served as a professor of physics.

“I may not be able return the citation and the plaque as they are with the library. I wanted to lodge a symbolic protest,” said the poet.