A still from the full-length play ‘DeshRaag’ at kala Academy.
The refusal of the Konkani writer and researcher Yugank Naik to accept the second prize to his full-length play ‘DeshRaag’ in the 50th Konkani Drama Competition organised by the Kala Academy Goa, has stirred ripples among circle of writers in Goa. This is not the first time that Kala Academy has announced such an incomplete result. In the past too, there were prizes announced for first place but second or third place prizes were skipped. But this is for the first time that anyone has ever returned the prize or declined to accept it.
Questioning the fairness and transparency of the Kala Academy’s evaluation, Yugank alleged that such a decision to skip a first prize and award a second prize sets a wrong precedent and undermines the writer’s dignity. Highlighting the academic importance of the competition that has been conducted by the Kala Academy for the past 50 years, Yugank, while speaking to The Goan pointed out that any parameter for art is derived from the first prize in any category.
Kala Academy, in its results of the 50th Konkani Drama Competition announced second prize for his original script specially written for the competition, and this without announcing who the first prize winner is. Yugank further added that the original script is the base of any theatrical work, and a play stands on this structure; the storyline revolves around the script. But in his case, in the original script category, the jury panel has decided to declare only the second prize without awarding the first, which he feels is unfair and that’s why he refused to accept the prize.
“Such results do not propose any standards or determine rankings. This is an insult to a work of art, to its expression. Such a rule is not specifically outlined in the Kala Academy's rules,” asserts the writer, a receiver of prestigious TMA Pai Foundation’s first prize for his research paper, ‘Venchik Antarrastriya Chalachitra: Niyaal aani Samiksha’ which was a review of world cinema.
Stating that the Konkani theatre movement has worked tirelessly in taking the State Konkani Drama Competition to the height it is today, he said. “The original script is the foundation of a theatre movement. However, the jury panel decided to award the best adapted or translated script, but the same logic was not applied to the original script category,” he stated.
Admitting that the judge's decision is always final, Yugank alleges that such a decision defies any logic or common sense. “By doing this, Kala Academy has set an ugly precedent in the field of playwriting. Writers should not be made soft targets. This act of judges is extremely disrespectful towards playwrights in Konkani,” feels the Konkani writer.
Arguing that if the judges' panel had not found any scripts qualifying for an award, then the panel should not have awarded any script, Yugank said that this act of Kala Academy not only challenges the creativity of a writer but also hurts the dignity of a Konknai writer and that accepting such a prize would be disrespect for the process of creative writing and research. This is my stand as a writer and does not reflect the views of any organisation,” he reasons in his letter to the chairman of the Kala Academy. The copies of this letter have been sent to Konkani Bhasha Mandal, chairman, Konkani Lekhak Sangh, chairman, All India Konkani Parishad and convener, Konkani Advisory Board, Sahitya Akademi.
“I have officially conveyed to Kala Academy that I refuse to accept the prize for the original play, as the judges have conferred second prize without awarding the first. This defies any logic or common sense. The merit has been given a go by. This sets up an ugly precedent for playwrights in Konkani”.
Yugank Naik, writer, researcher
