A 17-year-old writer has decided to return her Karnataka Sahitya Academy award over slow progress in rationalist MM Kalburgi's murder case.
For 17-year-old Ria Vithasha, who has authored five novels, the killing of senior Kannada writer MM Kalburgi distressed her enough to take the decision to return her Karnataka Sahitya Academy award.
"I knew Kalburgi from childhood and have read all his books. I cried a lot when he was killed and wanted to return my award but my parents told me to have patience and wait. Now so much time has elapsed and still there is nothing being done so like the other writers have done, I have returned my award," Vithasha said.
Known by her pen name Muddu Thirthahalli, Vithasha is a PU II or class 11th student, who was conferred the award for her 2011 collection of essays "Ondu Chandrana Tundu".
The young writer's novel "Kaada Haadiya Hoogalu" has been adapted into an award-winning film.
Vithasha's mother, Lydia D'Mello said her insistence to return the award came after hearing that Kannada writer, Chandrashekar Patil decided to return his Pampa award, one of the highest literary honors conferred by the Department of Kannada and Culture of Karnataka.
"She was close to Kalburgi and had attended many functions in his hometown Dharwad. She wanted to do something when she heard of his killing but we advised her to have patience," Ms D'Mello said.