Scientists against giving back awards to protest against social intolerance

BENGALURU: Two noted scientists expressed their reservations about returning awards to respond to the growing protest against social intolerance. Bharat Ratna Dr CNR Rao told ET: “One person has returned his award, that is his personal thing. Some people have signed an online petition and expressed displeasure. They didn’t ask me about it, I would have written a slightly different thing than what they have done.”

He added: “Intolerance has nothing to do with science, I am more worried about the future of science in India, that is a different matter.” Padmabhushan Dr UR Rao was more elaborate: “I don’t think returning these awards is the right thing. Awards are given for your work. The protest is against the current government. The award was given long back. On the other hand, expressing indignation about the problem related to the repression on food and gods — it is plainly stupid and wrong — we should do it. The government must make sure that this type of thing must stop.

Returning awards is not going to stop that.” UR Rao said there were other ways to protest. “Not everyone has given back awards.”