Noted Hindi writer, Giriraj Kishore, has questioned the basis for inviting Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan to the World Hindi Conference in Bhopal.
Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan, being invited for the World Hindi Conference has run into rough weather, with noted Hindi writer, Giriraj Kishore today questioning the basis for inviting the superstar for the event in Bhopal.
Accusing the organisers of sidelining Indian writers and historians, the Padma Shri writer said, "Harivansh Rai Bachchan was an author but why was his son Amitabh invited to the event."
The writer said that the organisers could have invited two Padma Shri awardees who stay in Bhopal. Many Sahitya Akademi awardees were also not invited to the conference. The Padma Shri is India's fourth highest civilian award, while the Sahitya Akademi awards are given to writers for their contribution to the upliftment of Indian literature.
Mr Kishore was upset that he has represented India in Hindi conferences held in foreign countries, but was not invited in his own country. He said, "It is up to the government to decide the invitees, if they consider it as just a government function."
The writer also objected to Union minister, VK Singh's reported comments, "Desh ke lekhak aayenge, khayenge, peeyenge aur paper pad kar chale jayenge" (Indian writers will come, eat and drink, will read the paper and go away).
"The writing community of this country has been insulted by this comment," said Mr Kishore, who was awarded the Padma Shri in 2007 for chronicling Mahatma Gandhi's struggles in South Africa in his book 'Pahla Girmitiya' (The First Indentured Labour).
The three-day 10th conference was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi today. Representatives from 40 countries are in the city to attend the conference, which PM Modi described as being the 'Maha Kumbh' of Hindi.