Javed Akhtar on becoming first Indian to receive Richard Dawkins Award: I am deeply honoured
Mumbai: Veteran writer-lyricist Javed Akhtar on Sunday mentioned he’s honoured to be named this yr’s recipient of the Richard Dawkins Award as he has been an enormous fan of the world-renowned English evolutionary biologist in whose identify the popularity is bestowed.
Akhtar turned the primary Indian to be given the honour for important pondering, holding non secular dogma as much as scrutiny, advancing human progress and humanist values.
“I am deeply honoured. I have been a great admirer of Richard Dawkins ever since I read his first book ‘The Selfish Gene’.”
“I received an email from him informing me that I had been unanimously selected for the award by the board of Center for Inquiry USA, in which The Richard Dawkins Foundation is housed,” Akhtar, 75, advised PTI.
Every yr, the award recognises a distinguished particular person from the sphere of science, scholarship, schooling, or leisure, who publicly proclaims the values of secularism and rationalism and upholding scientific fact.
The veteran screenwriter mentioned Dawkins is a “fierce advocate” of empirical science over superstition and he has learn all his books.
“His books have strengthened my own views on the need to expose religious dogma as an enemy of critical thinking and rationality,” Akhtar added.
According to Akhtar’s spouse, veteran actor Shabana Azmi, the award’s relevance turns into extra distinguished, particularly within the present occasions when secularism is beneath assault.
“I am thrilled. I know what a hero Richard Dawkins has been for Javed. The award gains all the more significance because in today’s time when secularism is being attacked by religious fundamentalists of all hues, this award comes as a validation of Javed’s long service to rational thinking,” Azmi advised PTI.
British actor-comedian Ricky Gervais obtained the honour final yr.
Bollywood celebrities together with Akhtar’s daughter, filmmaker Zoya Akhtar, actors Anil Kapoor, Dia Mirza took to social media to congratulate the author on the popularity.
Zoya Akhtar mentioned she is “super excited” for her father on receiving the honour.
“So my dad just won the prestigious Richard Dawkins Award 2020 for critical thinking and humanist values. He is the only Indian to have done so. Previous recipients include Bill Maher, Stephen Fry, Ricky Gervais and Christopher Hitchens…,” she wrote on Instagram.
“Knowing that Richard Dawkins has been your hero since you read ‘The Selfish Gene’, the prestigious Richard Dawkins Award must be extra special for you @Javedakhtarjadu Saab! It’s a truly incredible honour! Congratulations!” Kapoor tweeted.
Dia mentioned Akhtar’s win is a proud second for the nation.
“Javed Akhtar Saab has won the prestigious Richard Dawkins Award 2020 for critical thinking, holding religious dogma upto scrutiny, advancing human progress and humanist values. He is the only Indian to have won this award! @Javedakhtarjadu Congratulations! You make us proud,” Dia wrote.
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