Javed Akhtar 'thrilled' on winning the Richard Dawkins Award

The writer-lyricist calls it the first time he's been awarded for his views

Indian writer and lyricist Javed Akhtar became the recipient of Richard Dawkins award 2020. According to the Center for Inquiry (CFI) the award seeks to recognise individuals who “publicly proclaim the values of secularism, rationalism, upholding scientific truth”.

In an interview with Indian Express the writer shared his thoughts on what the award means to him. “These are the people of the same ideology, but I wasn’t sure they would know of my existence or what I have written and my opinions. I had no idea it would reach so far! So, it is a huge recognition,” he said.

The lyricist-writer who is a vocal advocate of secularism and a critic of religious fundamentalism talked about how he is "thrilled" to be awarded for his views.  “Validation is for someone who has even an iota of doubt about what he or she thinks. But I have always been so sure about my thinking. But I am thrilled for this one because it is the first time I have been awarded for my views, my thought process, my rationality, my thoughts on religion.,” he said.

Adding further, Akhtar deemed it as a win for India. “This win will tell the world that there are people in India who express views which are sometimes not popular. Democracy has given us a gift, and we will always protect it.”

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