Shimla, July 2 (IANS) Renowned poet-lyricist Gulzar who picked up an Oscar for the song 'Jai Ho' from the multi-award winning film 'Slumdog Millionaire' said Thursday there was no question of getting 'an Oscar early or late'.

'There is no question of getting an Oscar early or late. It's not something related to lifetime achievement. It is based on yearly assessment and for a particular category. So we got it,' he told reporters when asked that didn't he think that he got an Oscar too late.

He was here to inaugurate a two-day workshop at the Indian Institute of Advanced Study, a research institution in the field of humanities and social sciences.

Asked how an Oscar award for song 'Jai Ho' for the film 'Slumdog Millionaire' has changed things for him, the poet replied: 'What change can it bring? I would like to know that has it changed something for the people?'

Gulzar blamed his contemporaries for the ills in society. 'Our generation must own responsibility for moral and cultural degeneration in society.

'We did not stand up against corruption when it started and now we are finding faults with the new generation. If the established values in society suffer a decline, these would be reflected in the creative works, especially films.'