New Delhi: Sahitya Akademi, India’s premier literary institution, presented its prestigious Bhasha Samman for the years 2021 and 2023 to the awardees at a splendid ceremony held today at 5.00 p.m. at its First Floor Auditorium, Rabindra Bhavan, 35, Ferozeshah Road, New Delhi. These Sammans are given every year in two categories, one is given to writers/scholars for outstanding contribution in the field of classical and medieval literature and another for languages not recognized by the Akademi. An inscribed copper plaque and a cheque for Rs. 1,00,000/- is presented to the awardees by the President of Sahitya Akademi.
At the outset, Dr. K. Sreenivasarao, Secretary, Sahitya Akademi, welcomed the dignitaries, award winners, media personalities and the impressive gathering of eminent literary connoisseurs. He said that all the Indian knowledge is for the welfare of human beings and is for everyone. Our knowledge system is global. Expressing further, he said that loss of any language is loss of the culture of a society. In the past decades the classical and medieval literature was diminishing, therefore, Bhasha Samman was instituted by the Akademi and it is continuously making efforts to preserve these languages of India.
Sri Madhav Kaushik, President, Sahitya Akademi, while delivering the presidential address opined that Bhasha Samman is an honour to our sage tradition which is also an honour to the Indian knowledge tradition. One can call it as a celebration of Indian knowledge. Expressing further, he said that these language scholars have done the significant work of making accessible the classical and medieval literature to the common man in their own language. Therefore, by honouring them the Akademi also feels honoured.
Dr. Sreenivasarao read out the citations and Sri Madhav Kaushik presented the Bhasha Samman to the awardees.
The award presentation was followed by speeches by the Awardees wherein they shared their creative experiences with the audience. Prof. Purushottam Agrawal, Bhasha Samman awardee 2021 in the field of Classical and Medieval Literature for Northern Region, spoke about his curiosity right from childhood when he encountered several fundamental questions relating to God, world, family, etc., and remembered Sri Prakash Dikshit who gave him the right direction to think and study his curiosities. Further, he dealt in detail with his literary works like Akath Kahani Prem Ki and Kabir Granthawali, among others.
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Prof. Bethavolu Ramabrahmam, Bhasha Samman awardee 2021 in the field of Classical and Medieval Literature for Southern Region, while considering the need to increase the number of awards significantly proposed that the Akademi should introduce Bhasha Samman for each language and Award for each literary genre. He also suggested that a comprehensive dictionary encompassing all Indian languages needs to be brought out for optimum utilization and application of latest technologies like Artificial Intelligence and even machine translations.
Sri Avtar Singh, Bhasha Samman awardee 2023 in the field of Classical and Medieval Literature for Northern Region, recalling his past said that in spite of several official and personal responsibilities he was never able to separate himself from social and intellectual concerns and it was this concern that he got an opportunity to be present here today. Expressing further, he said that the importance of paper may come to an end but the importance of writing will always prevail.
Dr K.G. Paulose, Bhasha Samman awardee 2023 in the field of Classical and Medieval Literature for Southern Region, spoke that this honour comes to him as a recognition of the cause that he has passionately pursued all through his life. They are promotion of Sanskrit language and the culture enshrined in it and study of Natyasastra and its tradition as followed in the South, especially Kerala.
Sri Renthlei Lalrawna, Bhasha Samman joint-awardee in Mizo, felt happy that the Akademi has recognized his contribution to the enrichment, promotion and preservation of Mizo language, which is also regarded as a state language in Mizoram in addition to English and Hindi. He briefed about his literary works including reading material for neo-literates, literature, historical fiction, social works, general knowledge, biography, and health education.
Sri Rozama Chawngthu, Bhasha Samman joint-awardee in Mizo, after detailing his literary works shared a conversation between him and his wife. He said, “Since long back I have been praying to God for I may live long, at least upto the age of 90. My wife asked me, why I wanted to live long? My answer was, if I die soon, after my death, the new generation will defile the beautiful language of Mizo. I want to live long to guard my language. My wife then said, the reason why you want to live long is not for the sake of your family. I then said, no, it’s for the sake of language”.
