Govt cancels Urdu Akademi Awards

LUCKNOW: The state government has taken strict action after the Urdu Akademi Awards triggered a controversy. To note, three Akademi members, including the chairperson, were given the annual awards for 2018.

The government has cancelled the awards and sought the Academy’s response within three days. Deputy chief minister Dinesh Sharma said that the state government would look into the matter and till then the awards stood cancelled.

Late in the evening Akademi chairperson Asifa Zamani announced through a press note that she and the Akademi members were dissociating themselves from the awards. However, this announcement came when the state government had already cancelled the awards.

It is pertinent to mention here that Zamani was named for Dr Sugma Mehdi Award, with prize money of ₹1 lakh, while two members also nominated themselves for award of ₹1.50 lakh each.

Akademi member Abbas Raza Naiyyar was named for Amir Khusro Award and Prof Aaftab Ahmed Aafaqui was named for Professor Mahammad Hasan Award, though the award list did not mention their contribution to Urdu.

Minority minister Mohsin Raza also expressed his displeasure over the issue. He said the government would look into the process of awarding the prizes.

A former member of Urdu Akademi, requesting anonymity, said, “There is no rule under which members and chairperson can bag the awards. If they get awards, then constitution of the Akademi has to be changed. These are very responsible posts, but if such persons will start acting irresponsibly then progress of Urdu would be affected. Can they explain under which rule they conferred the awards on themselves?”

The rules, he said, did not allow a member of the jury to award himself or herself.

The list announced by UP Urdu Akademi had many anomalies, said the critics.