Kolkata: In line with many other award winners in different disciplines like, theaters, drama, poetry and literature from the West Bengal government, former Badminton star Dipu Ghosh, who represented India in Thomas Cup, decided to return his Banglar Gaurav award conferred on him by the Mamata Banerjee government in 2015 to protest the murder of the young medic in RG Kar Hospital.
Ghosh now 85, an Arjuna in 1969, represented India five times in the Thomas Cup in the singles men's championship and four times in doubles with his brother Romen Ghosh. He won National Singles men's in 1969. After retirement from internationals he became chief coach in 1973 for India in Thomas and Uber Cup teams for a few years, He also coached the Iranian Team during the 1974 Asian Games, and later Iceland Team.
Settled in Singapore with his son, Ghosh in a communique through his brother Romen expressed his desire to return the Banglar Gaurav along with Rs 1 lakh he had received in 2015.
"He ( Dipu Ghosh) has decided to return the Banglar Gourab Award and cash award of Rs one lakh received in 2015 from Govt of W.B," the communique said.
Recently Bongo Ratna award winner academician and former teacher Parimal Dey, Dinabandhu Award winner theatre personality Chandan Sen, Natya Academy award winner for best direction Biplab Banerjee, dramatist Sanchita Mukherjee were among others already decided to return their awards along with money they received from the state government.
Essayist Avhra Ghosh also decided to return his Vidyasagar Puraskar for his research work and another writer Ashish Lahiri anfd former headmaster Dipak Majundar were among others to return awards and money they received from the state government to protest the rape and murder of the young doctor on August 9.