Eminent Indian scientist returns award in protest against intolerance
A leading Indian scientist and writer has decided to return the Padma Bhushan award in protest against the climate of "religious intolerance" that has spread in the country. The decision of Dr. Pushpa Mittra Bhargava, the founder and director of the Center for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, came after 107 senior scientists signed an online statement on Wednesday to join the chorus of protests by other scientists, artists and writers. About 135 scientists had signed an online petition addressed to the President on Tuesday protesting intolerance and violence unleashed by Hindu fundamentalists in India.
Padma Bhushan, the Indian government’s third highest civilian honour was given to Bhargava in 1986 "in the high service to the nation." Bhargava said, “This award was very dear to me, I've received over 100 awards but this is the only one I received from the government, but I'm giving it away without any hesitation because at this moment the climate is such that we have many concerns. " “The government,” he noted “is moving away from the path of democracy and moving on a path of religion and making the country into a Hindu religious autocracy ". "Our constitution,” he stated, “demands that we possess scientific temper and a commitment to reason".
A week ago about 100 writers took to the streets in the capital demonstrating against the killing of secular writer MM Kalburgi, murdered in late August for his ideas on worship of Hindu deities and sacred rituals. Also they denounced the numerous incidents of violence against religious minorities in the country, of which the case of the Muslim man lynched in Dadri for eating beef, is only the most striking.
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