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In brief

The Times of India, Oct 12 2015

Sahitya Akademi recognises 24 tongues, including English

When was the Sahitya Akademi formed?

In 1944, the Royal Asiatic Society of Bengal proposed the institutes. One group argued that the government should wait and eminent members of civil society should come forward to establish these academies, while the other faction said the government should take the initiative of es tablishing these organisations. Finally , it was decided that the government would set up the academies, but after establishment they would refrain from interfering in their internal matters and exercising any control over them, so that they can function as autonomous institutions. Along these lines, the national academy of letters or the Sahitya Akademi was finally inaugurated in March, 1954.

What is the responsibility of Sahitya Akademi?

The main function of the academy is to encourage literary activities in the country by goading writerspoets from all Indian languages, and through them strive for the promotion of the cultural unity of the country . Although set up by the government, it is registered as a society under the Societies Registration Act, 1980. To promote Indian literature, the academy facilitates literary dialogues through seminars, lectures, discussions, readings, performances and so on. So far, it has published over 6,000 books that include anthologies, encyclopedias, dictionaries, bibliographies etc.The academy also has a cen tre for oral and trib al literature. The a cademy gives away Sahitya Akademi awards to promi nent writers in Indi an languages.

What are the languages in which Sahitya Akademi awards are given?

The academy recog nises 22 languages enumerated in the constitution. It also recognises English and Rajasthani as languages in which its programme can be implemented. The academy is supposed to give one award every year to writers from each of these languages. What are the eligibility criteria for the awards?

The book must be an outstanding contribution to the language and literature to which it belongs. It could be creative or a critical work, but it must not be a work of translation, anthology , an abridgement, a compilation, an annotation or a treatise or research work pre pared for a university degree or any examination.A fresh collection of writings published in book form is also not eligible for consideration for the awards.The work of an author who has earlier won the award is also disqualified. The book should have been published during the three years prior to the year immediately preceding the awards. A posthumous publication is eligible for the award only if the author has died within this three-year period.

What is the selection process?

Every year, a ground list of eligible books is prepared by an expert or two experts based on the discretion of the president. Each member of the language advisory board sends a panel of not more than five names to be nominated as experts. Once the list is made, a member of the advisory board can recommend a maximum of two titles from the list or one title from the list and one title on hisher own. The list is sent to a preliminary panel of 10 referees, nominated by the president, on the suggestion of the language advisory board. Each referee can recommend a maximum of two books selected from the list sent by the advisory board or on hisher own. The final list of recommended books is sent for consideration by a threemember jury . The awards are given after the recommendations of the jury, which are subject to the approval of the executive board.

Awards

2010

Source:

INDIA 2012

A REFERENCE ANNUAL

Compiled by

RESEARCH, REFERENCE AND TRAINING DIVISION

PUBLICATIONS DIVISION

MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

Language Title and Genre Author

Assamese Asomiya Ramayani Sahitya : Kathabostur Atiguri (Criticism) Keshada Mahanta (Smt.)

Bengali Khanamihirer Dhipi (Novel) Bani Basu ( Smt.)

Bodo Swdwbni Sweier (Poetry) Aurobindo Uzir

Dogri Pandran Kahaniyan (Short Stories) Manoj

English Book of Rachel (Novel) Esther David (Smt.)

Gujarati Chhavani (Novel) Dhirendra Mehta

Hindi Mohan Das (Short Story) Uday Prakash

Kannada Kattiyachina Daari (Criticism) Rahamath Tarikere

Kashmiri Yiman Padan Mye Vetsaar Gotshuy (Criticism) Basher Bashir

Konkani Kavallyachem Sraddha (Poetry) Arun Sakhardande

Malayalam Haimavathabhuvil (Travelogue) M.P. Veerendra Kumar

Manipuri Leikangla (Novel) M. Borkanya (Smt.)

Marathi Rujuvat-Asvad : Samiksha : Ashok R. Kelkar Mimamsa (Criticism)

Nepali Aakashlay Pani Thawan Khoji Gopi Narayan Pradhan Rahechha (Poetry)

Oriya Jibanara Chalapathe (Autobiography) Pathani Pattnaik

Punjabi Kaal Pehar Gharian (Poetry) Vanita (Smt.)

Rajasthani Meeran (Poetry) Mangat Badal

Sanskrit Bhargviyam (Poetry) Mithila Prasad Tripathi

Santhali Rahi Ranwak' Kana (Play) Bhogla Soren

Sindhi Ajan Yaad Aahe (Poetry) Laxman Dubey

Tamil Soodiya Poo Soodarka (Short Stories) Nanjil Nadan

Urdu Gumshuda Dair Ki Gunjati Ghantiyan (Poetry) Sheen Kaaf Nizam