Sajan RaJ Kurup resigns from Goafest jury to protest scam ads

Creativeland Asia pulls out its entries from Goafest 2013 awards

BestMediaInfo Bureau | March | March 29, 2013

On Wednesday, March 27, night, in a letter issued to the jury members of Goafest 2013 (Digital), Sajan RaJ Kurup, Founder and Creative Chairman, Creativeland Asia, resigned from the post of Jury Chairman and withdrew the award submissions from Creativeland Asia and decided not to participate in any creative awards in the country. This decision by RaJ Kurup comes as a drastic 'personal' step to curb the scam menace.

RaJ Kurup said: “In the present circumstance with all the controversies surrounding the awards and sacking of senior people, all the rumours going around this year's awards and international media looking at India scornfully is depressing. Personally, to me it just doesn't feel right deep inside my heart to be associated with awards in any way in our country.”

He added: “It is a harsh reminder of how deep-rooted scams are in our country. The double-standardness of its consequences and our approach to it depresses me. I remember the pressure of winning awards when I used to work for an agency as well. When I got out to start on my own, I decided not to do it again and it has made all the difference in my life. I have won awards thereafter, year after year. Fewer, better and probably more meaningful ones.”

Creativeland Asia is amongst the most awarded creative organisations from India with five Grand Prix received on both national and international stages, and three Agency of the Year titles in the five years of its existence.

Further, RaJ Kurup reiterated in his mail to his fellow jury members that it is not the jury but awards per se that he is pulling out of. “While I have been grappling with these issues in my head for a while, I woke up this morning and something just snapped. I didn't want to wait till the judging was over. My apologies if I am letting you all down or being irresponsible, but it is a 'feeling' thing. I just don't feel good. I have decided with the support of my organisation not to return to awards in this country till we take up the issues on scam seriously and take strong stringent steps against it. I have and I will in my little humble way be standing up against this scam culture in every way I can."

Following is a copy of the letter explaining his stance and sentiments:

My dear fellow jury members,

I regret to inform you all that I have decided to step off the jury.

In the present circumstance with all the controversies surrounding the awards and sacking of senior people, all the rumours going around this year's awards and international media looking at India scornfully is depressing. Personally, to me it just doesn't feel right, deep inside my heart to be associated with awards in any way in our country.

While I have been grappling with these issues in my head for a while, I woke up this morning and something just snapped. I didn't want to wait till the judging was over. My apologies if I am letting you all down or being irresponsible, but it is a 'feeling' thing. I just don't feel good. I have decided with the support of my organization not to return to awards in this country till we take up the issues on scam seriously and take strong stringent steps against it. I have and I will in my little humble way be standing up against this scam culture in every way I can.

 I have informed the organizers as well.

My decision is a stance against the scams and not against the industry or the organisers of the Goafest. It is an 'award hunger strike'. 

I really enjoyed getting to know some of you a little better. And I hope to keep in touch with you.

Regards,

RaJ

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