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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 years.
These boards also suggest National Seminars on |
> This
scheme enables empanelled writers to come into close contact
with a language region other than his own within India, acquaint
him with writers and people he would not ordinarily meet and
thereby to widen his awareness and sensibility.
>
The scheme also permits travel to attend functions organised
by the Sahitya Akademi in a region other than that to which the
empanelled writer belongs. |
certain 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. |
