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Mahapandit Rahul Sankarnarayan receiving Sahitya Akademi
Award from Pt.Nehru |
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Every year
since its inception in 1954, the Sahitya Akademi awards prizes  to the most outstanding
books of literary merit published in any of the major Indian
languages recognised by it. The award carries a monetary component
(Rs. 50, 000) and a plaque. |
Malayalam fiction writer Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai receiving the Akademi Award from the first Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru
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Sahitya Akademi gives twenty four awards to literary works in the languages it has recognised and an equal number to literary translations from and into the languages of India, both after an year-long process of scrutiny, discussion and selection. The awards are meant to recognise and promote excellence in Indian writing and expanding the very definition of Indian literature by acknowledging new trends and movements. They are a reflection of current tastes and contribute to the formation of an Indian sensibility.
The Akademi also gives special awards called
Bhasha Samman to writers/scholars for significant contribution to the languages not
formally recognised by the Akademi as also for contribution to classical & medieval Literature. It also has a system of electing
Fellows and Honorary Fellows, as also offering Anand Coomarswamy and Premchand
Fellowships. |
