THE RETURN OF THE AWARD

It is raining return gifts for all persons who have awarded and rewarded various persons for their accomplishments and achievements. The veterans of war have also turned veterans at war and are willing to return their gallantry medals for pension. Let us look at it dispassionately. On the day of their felicitations, the dignitaries were different, the persons who desired that they be feted were different and the felicitations were applauded by a different audience. Years later is it befitting for one to toss the much revered award or reward back at a different set of persons to drive home a point of theirs.

Imagine a person who was adjudged the best cadet of his alma mater returning the title years later when he felt that the institution did not match his expectations. Could it be called a revolt or disillusionment or desperation or sheer frustration to press home a point? Should the heroes of various wars desecrate the decorations they received to press home the precise One Rank One Pension version they desire? Have the issues got muddled to such an extent that the treasured gift by one friend is tossed out at the other without realising that though this act may draw blood, the earlier friend has been left humiliated. Is it fair to thus humiliate the one who honoured you?

Well, veterans may be in need of dignified pension scheme but what is the peeve of the littérateur? Their peeve is that secularism as they see it is being strangled. But if someone came to even rob their house would they have allowed him to pick the trophy without a fight? Then why are they hurling at a person who they feel have hurt the secular fabric? Are they really persons who could have changed the destiny of the society with the might of their pen? Is it their dream that a person who destroys the social fabric will be morally traumatised by the return of their awards? 

These queries could in reality have been raised through a literary piece which could have stirred the society's conscience or altered the route it took. All these persons require to reflect. Did Nelson Mandela not receive the Nobel alongwith De Klerk? Did he not fearlessly press for reconciliation without resorting to tokenism? Did the Mahatma return his title to stop the violence at Naokhali? Did Tagore not gracefully accept the Nobel but still motivated the heroic figures of the Independence Movement? Did Rajaji not step down as Governor General, float his own party but never return the praises he was a recipient of? Did the Sardar sacrifice his title to coerce the Congress and the Muslim League to see his point? 

While the world rues according to the positions it takes, yours truly painfully rues that today we are lacking men of stature who can hold their own, fight the right causes as well as gracefully accept the rights of the opponent too. Is this the change we wished to see- a million dollar question for the persons who have returned or contemplating to return their felicitations. Non acceptance is one thing and returning is another thing, gentlemen. Stop and introspect. Differences can be ironed out not hammered in should be our motto.