Urdu writer Mujtaba Hussain to return Padma Shri award to protest against CAA

Mujtaba Hussain, a satirist, often compared as the Mark Twain of Urdu, is one of the leading writers in the Indian subcontinent

Hyderabad: Well Known Urdu writer Mujtaba Hussain, has said he will return his Padma Shri award to protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). The Hyderabad satirist said the “current atmosphere” in the nation, he did not want to keep the award any more.

Mujtaba Hussain, a celebrated author, humorist, and satirist, had received the Padma Shri award in 2007.

“I have decided to return the award because I don’t want to keep it in my residence. I will write a letter to the Central government stating the same soon,” he said. Hussain was awarded the Padma Shri for his contribution to Urdu literature.

Mujtaba Hussain, a satirist, often compared as the Mark Twain of Urdu, is one of the leading writers in the Indian subcontinent.

Close sources to the writer said that he is concerned over the hatred and fear-mongering among the community through the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and proposed National Register of Citizens (NRC)

Hussain, 86 is the author of various books and his writings are part of Urdu textbooks in different states. His writings have been translated in other languages also. Apart from this, two more Urdu writers Shirin Dalvi and Yaqoob Yawar had also announced their decision to return the respective awards they received from Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh state governments.

Currently, Hyderabad has been witnessing protests against the CAA after the law came into effect earlier this month. Students across campuses have been protesting, demanding a rollback. More students from the Maulana Azad National Urdu University have been protesting since 15 December, and have boycotted their semester exams, which have been postponed.