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Sahitya Akademi is housed in the Rabindra Bhawan which was built in 1961 to commemorate the birth centenary of Rabindranath Tagore. View of Rabindra Bhawan from the front gate This building which was designed by noted architect H. Rehman also houses the two other National Akademies, namely, Sangeet Natak Akademi and the Lalit Kala Akademi.      The Constitution   The Sahitya Akademi was established under a Government of India Resolution dated 15 December 1952 in which the Constitution of the Akademi was originally embodied. The Akademi functions as an autonomous organisation, and the power to amend its Constitution vests in the General Council of the Akademi. This power has been exercised from time to time.      General Council   The supreme authority of the Akademi vests with the General Council which consists of 97 members and the Executive Board which consists of 25 members. The present Genenral Council, the eleventh since the inaguration of the Akademi, had its first session in February 2003. The General Council was reconstituted for the term 2003-2007 and Prof. Gopi Chand Narang was elected as President of the Sahitya Akademi. The general policy of the Sahitya Akademi and the basic principles of programme are laid down by the General Council & the Executive Board.

and implemented under the direct supervision of an Executive Board.   Inaguration of Sahitya Akademi, Maulana Azad & Dr. S. Radhakrishnan,12 March 1954   There is an Advisory Board for each language consisting of eminent writers and scholars on whose advice the specific programme in the language concerned is formulated and implemented.   The tenure of the General Council is five years. It elects the President, the Vice-President, the members of the Executive Board representing languages, and one representative of the General Council on the Finance Committee of the Sahitya Akademi. Advisory Boards for various languages are appointed by the Executive Board. The Secretary, is the principal executive officer of the Akademi.

Sunil Gangopadhyay President of the Sahitya Akademi since 2008 Eminent Bengali poet and fiction writer. M.A Born 07.09.34, Madanipur (now in Bangladesh). Car. Journalism; Associate Editor, Desh, Anand Bazar Group of Publications; Editor, Krittibas, poetry mag. Vice-President, Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi since 2003; Member, Executive Board and General Council of the Sahitya Akademi (1998-2002) and its Bengali Advisory Board; President, Budh Sandhya, lit. & Cultural organisation; President, P.E.N.’, West Bengal. Awards & Hons. Include Bankim Puraskar, 82; Sahitya Akademi Award, 85, for his Sei Samoy (novel); Ananda Puraskar, 86; Nominated as National poet, 79; Vidyasagar Puraskar; Got Scholarship from State University of lowa to join international writing programme, 63. Knows Bengali, English, Hindi and French. Pubs. 411 including Sei Samoy, Purba-Paschim; Aranyer Din Ratri; Pratidhwani (all novels); Shreshtha Galpo; Maha Prithibi (both short stories); Kavita Sangraha; Shada Pristha Tomar Sangay; Amar Swapna (all poetry); Praner Prahari; Raja Rani (both plays); Sanatan Pathaker Chinta (crit.); Prabandha Sangraha; Kavitar Janma (both essays). Two of his stories filmed by Satyajit Ray. Has written and staged several plays; written script for Hindi film Sodh. Has widely travelled in USA, Russia, China, Japan, Germany, France, UK, Rumania, Egypt, Switzerland, Bulgaria, and other countries. Add. ‘Partijat’, Apt. No. A-2/9, 10 th Floor, 24 Mandeville Gardens, Kolkata – 700 019, West Bengal. Tel. 033-24407302. When in Delhi : 011-23386626, 23386088. 2002 – Lifetime achievement award from Rammohan Foundation selected as Sheriff of Kolkata. 2003 – D.lit (Honorary) from Bardhaman University Annada Sankar Ray award from Holdia Festival Committee. 2004 – Saraswati Samman (for PRATHOM ALO- now) page up

S. S. Noor Vice-President of the Sahitya Akademi since 2008 page up