Noted Indian historian Romila Thapar declined to accept the Padma Bhushan Award saying that she had resolved not to accept 'state awards'.

She stressed that this was a 'purely personal decision'.

"I have written to the President A P J Abdul Kalam informing him about my decision," she said on Friday.

In her letter to the President, she said, "I am deeply appreciative of the honour that you have done me in making this award. I am, at the same time, regretfully, unable to accept it."

Thapar's letter read, "I decided some years ago that I would only accept awards from academic institutions or those associated with my professional work, and not accept State awards."

The historian expressed surprise over her inclusion in the awards list, noting that she had made her position clear to the human resource development ministry three months ago when she was informed about the decision.

Thapar underlined that it was a 'purely personal decision and does not reflect on the other recipients of State Awards'.

She retired as a professor at the School of Social Sciences of Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi.

Asked whether she would reconsider her decision if persuaded by the government, Thapar said an emphatic 'no'.

She is the second Padma awardee after Kanaksen Deka of Assam to turn down the honour.

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