Deboo declines honor

Noted dancer and choreographer Astad Deboo has declined an award from the government of Guja­rat in protest against its "policies and actions.” This came as yet another snub to chief minister Naren­dra Modi because Kathak exponent Aditi Mangaldas had earlier rejected the Gujarat State Sangeet Natak Akademi’s Gaurav Puruskar, reported The Indian Express (IE) on September 22, 2007. The refusal of the award by two world renowned artistes in the field of dance has caused immense embarrassment to the state government, IE informed readers on September 24, 2007.

Astad Deboo: left with no other choice

Deboo, who was slated to be away in the USA on a dance tour until October 5, 2007, in a letter to the Akademi dated September 20, 2007, wrote: "In my previous correspondence to you, prior to my departure to the United States, I had accepted the award. But on serious reflection I have decided not to accept the award because I do not believe in the Gujarat government and its actions (and) in good conscience I cannot accept it... I am proud to be an Indian and an artiste. But the violence perpetrated upon the people of Gujarat under this government leaves me with no choice except to disassociate myself from all its actions.”

A senior official in the Akademi, who did not wish to be named, described the actions of the two artistes as a ‘betrayal of trust.’