Pulitzer Prize winner Jhumpa Lahiri rejects award over museum’s dress code controversy

Lahiri rejects award: Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jhumpa Lahiri, of Indian origin, has declined the prestigious 2024 Isamu Noguchi Award in protest against the Noguchi Museum’s newly introduced dress code policy.

The policy prohibits employees from wearing clothing or accessories with political messaging, which led to the dismissal of three staff members for wearing ‘keffiyehs,’ a symbol associated with Palestinian solidarity.

Author shows her support

Lahiri, who was born to Indian immigrant parents in London and is now the director of Barnard College's creative writing programme, took this stand to show solidarity with those affected by the museum’s policy.

She is widely known for her Pulitzer Prize-winning collection "Interpreter of Maladies," and has also published works in both English and Italian.

In response to Lahiri's withdrawal, the museum issued a statement to The New York Times, acknowledging her decision and affirming that its policy might not resonate with everyone. However, it stressed its focus on its core mission of celebrating the legacy of its founder, Isamu Noguchi, a Japanese-American artist and sculptor.

Lahiri was set to receive the award alongside Korean-born minimalist artist Lee Ufan at the museum’s upcoming gala.

Controversial dress code at Noguchi Museum

The Isamu Noguchi Museum, established nearly four decades ago, introduced a new policy last month banning politically symbolic attire, including the keffiyeh, from the workplace. The museum defended the policy by arguing that political statements could alienate sections of its diverse visitor base.

The dismissal of the three staff members led to significant internal unrest, with most of the museum’s staff signing a petition against the policy. The petition drew attention to Noguchi's own history of internment during World War II and stressed the importance of not suppressing political expression.

Context of Israel-Palestine Conflict

Lahiri’s protest comes amid heightened tensions due to the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict, which has sparked global discussions around political expression and solidarity. After the Hamas attack on Israel in October 2023 and the subsequent military retaliation in Gaza, cultural institutions have been caught in the debate over how to address the divisive issue.

Lahiri, along with other scholars, has been vocal about her stance, having signed a letter earlier this year in solidarity with those opposing Israel’s military actions. The conflict has claimed over 41,000 lives in Gaza, according to local health authorities.