Pakistani poet rejects award from country’s ‘fascist’ regime

Islamabad, April 2: Renowned Seraiki poet and writer Dr Ashu Lal has refused to accept the Kamal-i-Fun Award having a prize money of Rs 1 million announced by the Pakistan Academy of Letters, calling the government “anti-people”. He was selected for the award by a committee and the announcement was made by Dr Yousuf Khushk, Chairman of the Academy. Urdu novelist and travelogue writer Mustansar Hussain Tarar is the other author who got the highest award in the country besides Ashu Lal. The Pakistani media on Saturday quoted Ashu Lal as saying why he rejected the award. “I refuse to accept the award… My literary activism for the last 40 years is my reward (as a writer). Don’t want to live in brackets.” Asked by Dawn newspaper, he added: “The deep state is oppressing the natives, our resources and our culture. Our children went missing under the fascist regime. The natives are ignored badly. How can we accept the award from an anti-people and anti-art state?” He considers it degrading to accept an award from a President of Pakistan who does not even know him. Born on April 13, 1959, he was named Muhammad Ashraf but adopted the sobriquet Ashu Lal, which was a name given by his mother when he started writing in the Seraiki language. He is a medical doctor by profession. He runs a clinic in Layyah district where treatment is free for the poor. He says he is following the resistance of Bulleh Shah and Kabir. (UNI)