New Delhi, March 13, 2024: The Sahitya Akademi Award for 2023 was conferred upon 24 writers, including renowned English author Neelum Saran Gaur and Hindi novelist Sanjeev, at a ceremony held here. The event coincided with the 70th-anniversary celebrations of the National Academy of Letters at the Sahityotsav.
The awards were given for outstanding literary works, including nine books of poetry, six novels, five collections of short stories, three essays, and one literary study. Sanjeev was awarded for his novel ‘Mujhe Pehchaano’, while Neelum Saran Gaur received the award for her book ‘Requiem in Raga Janki’. Sadiqua Nawab Saher was honored for her book ‘Rajdev Ki Amrai’ in Urdu, and Swarnjit Savi received the award for his book of poetry ‘Mann Di Chip’ in Punjabi.
Other recipients of the awards in poetry include Vijay Verma (Dogri), Vinod Joshi (Gujarati), Manshoor Banihali (Kashmiri), Sorokkhaibam Gambhini (Manipuri), Ashutosh Parida (Odia), Gaje Singh Rajpurohit (Rajasthani), Arun Ranjan Mishra (Sanskrit), and Vinod Asudani (Sindhi).
In the novel category- apart from Gaur and Sanjeev, writers such as Swapnamay Chakrabarti (Bengali), Krushnat Khot (Marathi), and Rajasekaran Devibharathi (Tamil) were recognized for their exceptional works.
For short stories – Pranavjyoti Deka (Assamese), Nandeswar Daiman (Bodo), Prakash S Parienkar (Konkani), Taraceen Baskey (Turia Chand Baskey) (Santali), and T Patanjali Sastry (Telugu) were among the recipients.
In the essay category – Lakshmisha Tolpadi (Kannada), Basukinath Jha (Maithili), and Judhabir Rana (Nepali) received the prize, while EV Ramakrishnan was awarded for his literary study in Malayalam.
Speaking at the award ceremony, Jnanpith winner Odia writer Pratibha Ray emphasized the importance of language in preserving culture, stating that “without the progress of language, no culture can survive for long.” She highlighted the universal nature of literature, which “connects everyone” and “never divides,” adding that “writing is always universal and does not lose its luster even in times of various changes.”
Sahitya Akademi president Madhav Kaushik praised the writers and litterateurs for their contributions, stating that they play a crucial role in “preserving humanity” through their works. He acknowledged the challenges faced by writers, noting that “it has never been convenient to create literature at any point of time in history.”
The awards are selected based on unanimous selections made by the jurors or a majority vote. They relate to books first published during the five years immediately preceding the year of the award, i.e., between January 1, 2017, and December 31, 2021. Each author and poet received the award in the form of a casket containing an engraved copper plaque, a shawl, and an amount of ₹1 lakh.
The event was attended by Sahitya Akademi vice president Kumud Sharma and secretary K. Sreenivasarao, among others.
Author: Jaun Shahi
Journalist, Sub-Editor, Travellers’ World Jaun is a soft-spoken and gentle soul who thrives as a Journalist with his exceptional observation skills and an eye for intricate details. He is a true multitasker who efficiently handles various tasks and always brings a professional approach to everything he does. His genuine team spirit makes him an integral part of the TW family, as he consistently collaborates and supports his colleagues.
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