Popular writer-lyricist Javed Akhtar is honored to receive the Richard Dawkins Award 2020. He says that to have his name included in the list with previous recipients such as comedian Bill Maher and philosopher Christoper Hitchens is fulfillment of a dream he had not even seen.
The award has been presented since 2003, and is named after English evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins.
Akhtar received the honor for critical thinking, holding religious dogma up to scrutiny, advancing human progress and humanist values.
“I am deeply honored to receive the Richard Dawkins Award 2020. I have admired Richard Dawkins ever since I read his first book ‘The Selfish Gene’. I have since then read every book of his and ‘The God Delusion’ is my absolute favorite,” said Akhtar.
“To have my name included in the distinguished list of the previous recipients such as Bill Maher and Christoper Hitchens is fulfillment of a dream I had not even seen,” he added.
