In recent news, the distinguished Odia poet and novelist, Dr. Rajendra Kishore Panda, was announced as the recipient of the Kuvempu Rashtriya Puraskar 2020. Born in 1944, Dr. Panda’s extensive body of work includes 16 poetry collections and a novel. His previous accolades feature prominent awards such as the Gangadhar National Award in 2010 and the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1985.
Overview of the Kuvempu Rashtriya Puraskar
The Kuvempu Rashtriya Puraskar is an eminent national award established in remembrance of the late Kannada poet laureate, Kuvempu. This annual award is granted to a writer who has significantly contributed to literature in any of the languages recognized by the Constitution of India. The honourable awardee receives a cash prize of Rs. 5 lakh, a silver medal, and a citation.
Kuvempu: The Man Behind the Name
Kuppali Venkatappa Puttappa, more widely known by his pen name Kuvempu, was a revered Indian poet, playwright, novelist, and critic. His works and contributions to Kannada literature earned him a reputation as the greatest Kannada poet of the 20th century. Kuvempu was the inaugural Kannada writer to receive the Jnanpith Award for his version of the epic, Ramayana, titled ‘Sri Ramayana Darshanam.’
The Prestigious Jnanpith Award
Regarded as the highest literary award in India, the Jnanpith award is conferred annually to an Indian citizen. English and other languages mentioned in the Indian Constitution’s 8th Schedule are considered for the award. The laureate receives a cash award of Rs. 11 lakhs, a citation, and a bronze replica of Vagdevi (Saraswati), the goddess of learning. The award is sponsored by the cultural organization Bharatiya Jnanpith.
Sahitya Akademi Awards: Honoring Literary Excellence
The Sahitya Akademi awards, established in 1954, are a mark of literary prestige bestowed annually by Sahitya Akademi, India’s National Academy of letters. Each year, the Akademi confers 24 awards to literary works in the languages it has recognized and an equal number of awards to literary translations from and into Indian languages. Besides the 22 languages enumerated in the Constitution of India, English and Rajasthani are also recognized. The Government of India recognizes this as the second-highest literary honor, next only to the Jnanpith award.
Gangadhar National Award: Applauding Poetry
The Gangadhar National Award for Poetry is a distinctive literary award granted in the field of literature for poetry by Sambalpur University. This award, named after Gangadhar Meher, comes with a cash prize of Rs. 50,000, a shawl, and a citation.
