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Sahitya
Akademi is aware of cultural and linguistic difference and does
not believe in a forced standardisation of culture through a
bulldozing of levels and attitudes. At the same time, it is also
conscious of the deep inner cultural, spiritual, historical and
experiential links that unify India's diverse manifestations
of literature.
Inspite of the pan-Indian
character of our literature, writers and readers in one language
know very little of what is being written in the neighbouring
linguistic area. It is, therefore, necessary to devise methods
by which Indian writers may come to know each other, cross the
barriers of language and script, and appreciate the immense variety
and complexity of their country's literary heritage.
 Sahitya Akademi's
programmes are so designed as to heighten literary awareness
among the common readers, to provide a platform of dialogue for
writers of various languages, to create opportunities for academics
to discuss issues of literature and aesthetics, to encourage
critics to reassess their canons, methodologies and tools of
analysis and re-evaluate classical, medieval and modern authors'
texts and trends and to bring the readers face to face with established
as well as upcoming authors. Sahitya Akademi holds, on an average,
one hundred and fifty literary programmes and activities of various
types and scales. Annual
seminars in each of the 22 recognised languages are held following
the suggestions from the 22 language advisory boards - consisting
of ten significant writers / scholars / critics from each - whose
constitution changes every five
 |
Smt.
Mrinalini Sarabhai, noted danseuse, at a Meet the Author programme |
years. These boards also suggest
National Seminars on certain |
 |
Dr.
Jayant Narlikar, scientist and science writer, at a Meet the
Author programme |
important themes or on writers and texts
whose centenaries, bicentenaries etc. are being celebrated in
a particular year. There are also regional Seminars suggested
by the four Regional Advisory Panels where the accent is on comparative
literature and criticism.
International
Seminars involving scholars from abroad are also held at regular
intervals as those held in recent years on 'Narratives', on 'Indology
at Crossroads', on 'The Ramayana Tradition' and on 'Mirza Ghalib's
Worlds'. Symposia on topics and authors of contemporary relevance
and workshops on genres and for inter-language translations are
also held from time to time. There has recently been a special
emphasis on tribal and folk literatures and the new literatures
of the marginalised sections meant to make our programmes more
democratic and to share popular concerns. We are also trying
to carry our programmes and activities to the interior parts
of the country. Besides Seminars, Symposia and Workshops, the
Akademi's programmes include Meet the Author, Samvad, Kavisandhi,
Kathasandhi, Men and books, Through my Window, Mulakat, Asmita,
Antaral, Avishkar, Loka: The Many Voices , Seminars, Samvatsar
Lectures, Workshops on, Literary
Translations, Travel Grants to Authors, Cultural Exchange Programmes,
etc. |
