The Indian literary sphere was recently stirred when the Marathi author, Nanda Khare, declined the Sahitya Akademi award for his 2014 novel “Udya”. This unexpected action offers an opportunity to delve into the prestigious Sahitya Akademi Award as well as other significant literary accolades in India.
Understanding the Sahitya Akademi Award
Founded in 1954, the Sahitya Akademi Award is a renowned annual literary honor presented by the Sahitya Akademi, India’s National Academy of Letters. Each year, the academy acknowledges 24 commendable literary works in languages it has recognized and an equal count of awards for literary translations to and from Indian languages.
In addition to the 22 languages listed in the Indian Constitution, the Sahitya Akademi also recognizes English and Rajasthani for implementing its program, thereby enhancing the linguistic diversity of the awards. Following the Jnanpith award, the Sahitya Akademi award holds the position of the second-highest literary honour conferred by the Government of India.
Criteria for Selecting Awardees
Not everyone can aspire to this esteemed award, as the eligibility standards are stringent. The authors must be Indian nationals, and only books that make an exceptional contribution to their respective language and literature are eligible for the award. In cases of matching merit for more than one book, factors such as the total literary contributions and standing of the authors are considered for declaring the award.
About ‘Udya’, The Marathi Novel
“Udya”, the novel at the centre of this controversy, presents a futuristic perspective on potential outcomes arising from our existing capitalistic and machine-driven lifestyle. The novel delicately articulates how humans have become subjugated by machines, particularly by those capable of surveillance of our personal lives.
The Jnanpith Award
The Jnanpith award is the premier literary accolade in India, conferred annually only upon an Indian citizen. Languages recognized for this honor include English and other languages listed in the Indian Constitution’s 8th Schedule. This award includes a cash prize of Rs. 11 lakhs, a citation, and a bronze replica of Vagdevi (Saraswati), the goddess of learning. Sponsored by the cultural organization Bharatiya Jnanpith, the 2018 laureate was author Amitav Ghosh, the first English language writer to receive the Jnanpith. Akkitham Achuthan Namboothiri, a Malayalam language writer, is the most recent recipient for the year 2019.
Other Sahitya Akademi Awards
In addition to the main Sahitya Akademi Award, there are other unique awards as well. The Sahitya Akademi Bal Sahitya Puraskar honors an author’s overall contribution to children’s literature. This award pertains to books first published during the five years preceding the award’s year. Additionally, the Sahitya Akademi Yuva Puraskar is awarded for books published by an author aged 35 or below.
Last Modified: February 11, 2024