Writer not to return Padma award

Veteran Gandhian writer and freedom fighter Vishnu Prabhakar on Sunday decided not to return the coveted Padma Bhushan conferred on him last year following an appeal by President A P J Abdul Kalam.

Romila Thapar rejects Padma award

Prabhakar, after his meeting in Delhi with the President, told waiting media persons about his decision not to return the award.

The 93-year-old author had decided to return the Padma Bhushan given last year after he was not allowed to enter the Rashtrapati Bhawan along with his son to attend the 'At Home' function on the occasion of Republic Day.

Prabhakar said after stories appeared in newspapers about his decision, he got a telephone call from Rashtrapati Bhawan informing that the President wanted to meet him on Sunday.

The veteran writer said his decision to return the award was not motivated by any personal insult but because of insult to the national language Hindi.