Pulitzer winner Jhumpa Lahiri declines NYC museum award in protest against Keffiyeh ban
Keffiyehs, scarf symbolizing Palestinian solidarity was recently banned by museum
Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jhumpa Lahiri has garnered widespread praise on social media for her decision to decline an award from a New York City museum that recently dismissed employees for wearing keffiyehs, a scarf symbolizing Palestinian solidarity.
Lahiri was set to receive the prestigious 2024 Isamu Noguchi Award from the Noguchi Museum, an honor that recognizes individuals who embody the innovative spirit and creative commitment of Japanese-American sculptor Isamu Noguchi. The award is highly regarded in the arts community and celebrates those who have made significant contributions to culture and creativity.
However, on Wednesday, the museum issued a statement confirming that Lahiri had chosen to withdraw her acceptance of the award. "Jhumpa Lahiri has chosen to withdraw her acceptance of the 2024 Isamu Noguchi Award in response to our updated dress code policy," the statement read. "We respect her perspective and understand that this policy may or may not align with everyone's views."
The controversy surrounding the Noguchi Museum began in August when the institution, located in the borough of Queens and founded nearly 40 years ago by Isamu Noguchi, terminated three employees. The museum also introduced a new dress code policy prohibiting staff from wearing clothing or symbols that convey overt political messages, slogans, or symbols during work hours. The decision to fire employees for wearing keffiyehs, which are widely recognized as symbols of Palestinian solidarity, sparked backlash and criticism from various quarters.
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IRS officer booked in rape case in Odisha
Bhubaneswar (PTI): An Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer was booked in Bhubaneswar for allegedly raping a woman, police said on Sunday.
The case was lodged under BNS Section 64 on the basis of a complaint filed at the Saheednagar police station of the city, they said.
The alleged incident took place on January 15 at the officer's official residence in the city, where the woman had gone along with a friend, they added.
The FIR was registered on February 20 after a preliminary inquiry established prima facie evidence, officials said.
The woman, who is married, alleged that the accused officer had threatened to circulate her intimate photographs on social media.
Police Commissioner S Dev Datta Singh said an investigation is underway.
