Adivasi Poet Jacinta Karketta Rejects US Backed Award In Solidarity With Palestine (image-twitter/Jacinta Karketta)
Adivasi activist and writer Jacinta Kerkatta turned down an award jointly given by the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and Room to Read India Trust. She had rejected the honor in protest against Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza and the role of US funding in weapons for the genocide.
Her book, Jirhul, which is a collection of poems, was selected for the ‘Room to Read Young Author Award’ in the Children’s book Creators’ Awards.
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Kerkatta had said that books for children were important but adults have not been able to save children- “thousands of whom are being killed in Palestine”.
Meanwhile, the awards have not yet reacted to this decision publicly. The website has noted that the ceremony of the 2nd edition of the Children’s Literature Awards has been scheduled to be held on October 7.
While speaking to The Wire, the renowned author said, “I saw that Room to Read India Trust is also associated with [the company] Boeing for children’s education. How can the arms business and care for children continue simultaneously when the world of children is being destroyed by the same weapons?”
Aerospace giant Boeing has been associated with the Israeli army for 75 years.
Kerketta had written to USAID and the Room to Read India Trust declining the award by offering her reason for her decision.
In her statement, she pointed out that her poem ‘Jirhul’ is on flowers that are ‘related to the life of people in the forests of Adivasi areas’ but during this circumstance, it was difficult to accept the award for children’s literature.
Meanwhile, Room to Road in its reply said as follows: “Room to Read believes that education is the most effective tool for solving the world’s greatest challenges. Room to Read values Jacinta Kerketta’s contributions to literature and her shared passion for the power of books to create a more peaceful, empathetic and just world.
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“Room to Read believes we can benefit more children, more quickly in partnership with others. Our partnerships globally across the public and private sectors are in support of our mission to nurture foundational learning skills in children. Acts of discrimination or violence are in direct opposition to everything Room to Read stands for and the world we seek to shape for future generations. We envision a world free from illiteracy and gender inequality, where all children have room to read, learn, and grow – creating lasting change,” quoted The Wire.
Last year, Kerketta had refused an award from India Today group for her work, in protest against the lack of respect being given to Adivasis in Manipur.
