Javed Akhtar has had several awards and titles bestowed upon him during his illustrious career. The veteran writer and lyricist has now won the 2020 Richard Dawkins Award for critical thinking, holding religious dogma up to scrutiny and advancing human progress. He has become the first Indian to bag the honour. Past winners include Bill Maher, Stephen Fry, Ricky Grevais and Christopher Hitchens.
Speaking about the same to a leading daily, Javed Akhtar said, “I have been an admirer of Richard Dawkins ever since I read his first book, The Selfish Gene. I received an email from him saying that I had been selected by the Board of Centre for Inquiry, USA, in which The Richard Dawkins Foundation is housed. He is an advocate of empirical science over superstition. I have read his books and they have strengthened my views on the need to expose religious dogma as an enemy of critical thinking and rationality.”
Shabana Azmi too was elated with the news and said, “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.”
Zoya Akhtar and Zoya Akhtar shared the news on social media and many celebrities too took to social media to congratulate the veteran on his big win.
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