Dehradun, April 22 (IANS): Noted writer and intellectual Kiran Nagarkar has said that he "does not give a damn" about nationalism and is yet a proud Indian.

The comments from the much-acclaimed author came at a session on "Nationalism in Digital India" at the WIC India Dehradun Communnity Literature Festival. The panel, apart from Nagarkar, also included writers Nayantara Sehgal, Nandita Haksar and Harsh Mader. The discussion was moderated by journalist Rana Ayyub.

"I am a proud Indian but I don't give a damn about nationalism. I don't want India to be a great country. I would rather want India to be a good country where everyone is loved and respected and where everybody's rights are protected," he remarked to a house-full audience, comprising mostly students from the many reputed schools of the this hill station.

Accusing the ruling establishment of propagating hate among the masses, Nagarkar said that the government -- led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi -- hates questions.

"Hate is something that this regime thrives on. They breed contempt and hate," he said.

Nagarkar is an Indian novelist, playwright, film and drama critic and screenwriter both in Marathi and English, and is one of the most significant writers of post-colonial India.

Amongst his works are "Saat Sakkam Trechalis" (Seven Sixes Are Forty Three) (1974), "Ravan and Eddie' (1994), and the epic "Cuckold" (1997) for which he was awarded the 2001 Sahitya Akademi Award in English by the Sahitya Akademi, India's National Academy of Letters.