Highlights
- Dr Varinderpal Singh of PAU was to receive the award for ‘Best work done in the field of Plant Nutrition’
- He politely refused to accept the award from India's Minister for Chemicals and Fertilisers in New Delhi, citing his support for the protesting farmers
- Dr Singh clarified that doesn't have "any political or terrorist connections" and "is dedicated only to the integrity and prosperity of India."
Hundreds of thousands of Indian farmers have descended on New Delhi, demanding that the Indian government repeals the three agriculture laws recently passed. The farmers believe the laws will affect them adversely whilst the Indian government maintains that the reforms will open up the food market.
Many well-known personalities in India from various walks of life have expressed their solidarity with the protesting farmers, by returning or refusing to accept state and national awards.
Renowned Punjabi poet Surjit Patar and wrestler Kartar Singh have already returned their Padma Shri awards, and so have several other sportspersons, artists and personalities.
The latest to join this list is the Principal Soil Chemist at Punjab Agricultural University Dr Varinderpal Singh, who was to receive the Fertiliser Association of India’s Golden Jubilee Award of Excellence in an individual capacity.
The FAI had announced scientists from Tamil Nadu Agriculture University and Punjab Agriculture University as joint winners in the category ‘Best work done in the field of Plant Nutrition’.
It was being conferred on an individual basis two well-known scientists, and each was to receive a cash award of Rs 200,000 along with a gold medal being conferred by India’s Chemicals and Fertilisers Minister DV Sadananda Gowda.
While Dr KS Subramanian from the Coimbatore-based TNAU accepted his award first and Dr Varinderpal Singh did come on stage, but it was only to speak up about his reasons for not accepting.
He said, “I have a humble submission that at this time of crisis for the nation when our farmers are on the roads, my conscience does not allow me to receive this award. I wish we shall work together for the nation and the government shall listen to the dear farmers.”
Dr Singh went on to say, “The work I did was only for the farmers and for the nation and I will feel guilty if at this moment I should receive this award. But I have great gratitude to the Honourable Minister of Fertilisers and Chemicals and the Director-General of the FAI. So kindly accept my apologies.”
He had prefaced his comments by telling the Minister that the technology he had worked on will save about Rs 750 crore in Punjab alone and billions of rupees in all of India.
“I’m thankful to you for giving this technology recognition. I wish to submit my gratitude to the Honourable Minister of Fertilisers and Chemicals and also to the Director-General of FAI.”
After refusing to accept the citation, gold medal and the cash award, he added, “I regret any inconvenience. My only feeling is that we shall jointly work for the farmers, we shall jointly work for the Government of India, so that we can build our India as a great nation.”
Even after this, he was urged to accept the award ‘since the Minister was standing on stage’. With folded hands, Dr Singh said, ”I have full regard for him, but cannot accept this award,” adding, “I support farmers.”
He followed this up with a letter to Minister to clarify that he 'didn't have any personal resentment or opposition to you or the Government of India', further clarifying that he didn't have "any political or terrorist connections" and "is dedicated only to the integrity and prosperity of India."
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