Jnanpith Award Explained

Jnanpith Award
Subheader:Award for individual contributions to Literature
Instituted in 1961
Awarded For:Literary award in India
Sponsor:Bharatiya Jnanpith
Firstawarded:1965
Lastawarded:2023
Former Name:Aditya
Holder Label:Most recent winner
Holder:Gulzar
Rambhadracharya
Award1 Type:Total awarded
Award1 Winner:64
Award2 Type:First winner
Award2 Winner:G. Sankara Kurup

The Jnanpith Award is the oldest and the highest Indian literary award presented annually by the Bharatiya Jnanpith to an author for their "outstanding contribution towards literature". Instituted in 1961, the award is bestowed only on Indian writers writing in Indian languages included in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of India and English, with no posthumous conferral.[1]

From 1965 till 1981, the award was given to the authors for their "most outstanding work" and consisted of a citation plaque, a cash prize and a bronze replica of Saraswati, the Hindu goddess of knowledge and wisdom.[2] [3] [4] The first recipient of the award was the Malayalam writer G. Sankara Kurup who received the award in 1965 for his collection of poems, Odakkuzhal (The Bamboo Flute), published in 1950.[5] The rules were revised in subsequent years to consider only works published during the preceding twenty years, excluding the year for which the award was to be given and the cash prize was increased to from 1981.

, the cash prize has been revised to and out of twenty-three eligible languages the award has been presented for works in sixteen languages: Hindi (eleven), Kannada (eight), Bengali and Malayalam (six each), Urdu (five) Gujarati, Marathi, Odia (four each), Assamese and Telugu (three each), Punjabi, Tamil, Konkani and Sanskrit (two each), English, Kashmiri and (one each). The award has been conferred upon fifty-eight writers including eight women authors. In 1976, Bengali novelist Ashapoorna Devi became the first woman to win the award and was honoured for the 1965 novel Prothom Protishruti (The First Promise), the first in a trilogy.[6] The most recent recipients of the award are Sanskrit scholar Rambhadracharya and Urdu writer, Bollywood lyricist Gulzar jointly awarded for the year of 2023.

Background

The Bharatiya Jnanpith, a research and cultural institute founded in 1944 by industrialist Sahu Shanti Prasad Jain of the Sahu Jain family, conceived an idea in May 1961 to start a scheme "commanding national prestige and of international standard" to "select the best book out of the publications in Indian languages".[7] Later in November, Rama Jain, the Founder President of the Bharatiya Jnanpith, invited a few literary experts to discuss various aspects of the scheme. Jain along with Kaka Kalelkar, Harivansh Rai Bachchan, Ramdhari Singh Dinkar, Jainendra Kumar, Jagdish Chandra Mathur, Prabhakar Machwe, Akshaya Kumar Jain, and Lakshmi Chandra Jain presented the initial draft to the then President of India Rajendra Prasad who had shown interest in the scheme's implementation. The idea was also discussed at the 1962 annual sessions of the All India Gujarati Sahitya Parishad and the Bharatiya Bhasha Parishad.[2]

On 2 April 1962, around 300 writers of various Indian languages were invited to Delhi for the two sessions conducted by Dharamvir Bharati in which the draft was finalised and later presented to Prasad. The first award selection committee meeting was scheduled on 16 March 1963 and Prasad was appointed as its president.[2] However, Prasad died on 28 February 1963 and thus the scheduled meeting was chaired by Kalelkar and Sampurnanand acted as president of the committee.[2] [8]

The first Selection Board consisted of Kalelkar, Niharranjan Ray, Karan Singh, R. R. Diwakar, V. Raghavan, B. Gopal Reddy, Harekrushna Mahatab, Rama Jain, and Lakshmi Chandra Jain and was headed by Sampurnanand. Works that were published between 1921 and 1951 were considered for the first award. The nine language committees that were formed were to submit to the board nominations along with translations of the work into Hindi or English. The final round had four authors; Kazi Nazrul Islam (Bengali), D. V. Gundappa (Kannada), Viswanatha Satyanarayana (Telugu), and G. Sankara Kurup (Malayalam). On 19 November 1966, Kurup was presented with the citation, statue of Saraswati, and a cheque for prize of at a ceremony held at Vigyan Bhavan, Delhi. In his acceptance speech, Kurup appreciated the concept of the new award and thanked it for bringing "integration of the diverse people of this land on a spiritual plane".[9]

Rules and selection process

The nominations for the award are received from various literary experts, teachers, critics, universities, and numerous literary and language associations. Every three years, an advisory committee is constituted for each of the languages.[2] The language of the most recent recipient's work is not eligible for consideration for the next two years.[1] Each committee consists of three literary critics and scholars of their respective languages. All the nominations are scrutinised by the committee and their recommendations are submitted to the Jnanpith Award Selection Board.

The Selection Board consists of between seven and eleven members of "high repute and integrity". Each member is part of the committee for a term of three years which can also be extended further for two more terms.[2] The recommendations of all language advisory committees are evaluated by the board based on complete or partial translations of the selected writings of the proposed writers into Hindi or English. The recipient for a particular year is announced by the Selection Board, which has final authority in selection.[1]

List of recipients

Key
align=center style="width:50px;background-color:#CEE8F0"†Indicates a joint award for the given year
Year! scope="col"
Recipient(s)Language(s)
1965
[10]
1966
1967
†
1968
1969
1970
1971
1972
1973
†
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
[11]
1983
[12]
1984
[13]
1985
1986
[14]
1987
1988
[15]
1989
[16]
1990
[17]
1991
[18]
1992
1993
[19]
1994
[20]
1995
1996
[21]
1997
[22]
1998
[23]
1999
†		[24]
2000
[25]
2001
[26]
2002
[27]
2003
[28]
2004
[29]
2005
[30]
2006
†
2007
[31]
2008
[32]
2009
†		[33]
2010
[34]
2011
[35]
2012
[36]
2013
[37]
2014
[38]
2015
[39]
2016
[40]
2017
[41]
2018
[42]
2019
Malayalam[43]
2021
[44]
[45]
2022
[46]
2023
†		[47]
[48]

See also

Bibliography

Further reading

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Proposal for the 52nd Jnanpith Award. 18 April 2016. 28 May 2016. Bharatiya Jnanpith. https://web.archive.org/web/20160509005855/http://jnanpith.net/sites/default/files/tmp/52nd%20Jnanpith%20Award.pdf. 9 May 2016.
  2. Web site: Jnanpith Award @ Bharatiya Jnanpith. 28 May 2016. Bharatiya Jnanpith. https://web.archive.org/web/20160309070110/http://jnanpith.net/awards/jnanpith-award. 9 March 2016.
  3. News: Gujarati writer Raghuveer Chaudhary chosen for Jnanpith Award. The Hindu. 30 December 2015. 22 May 2016. New Delhi. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20161216133705/http://www.thehindu.com/books/gujarati-writer-raghuveer-chaudhary-chosen-for-jnanpith-award/article8045501.ece. 16 December 2016.
    • News: The prize is right?. The Hindu. 31 January 2015. 22 May 2016. Bhattacharji, Jaya Rose. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180203083346/http://www.thehindu.com/books/literary-review/authors-publishers-and-members-of-award-juries-discuss-if-indian-literary-prizes-set-literary-standards/article6842116.ece. 3 February 2018.
  4. Web site: Vasant Panchami, a celebration of Goddess Saraswati. Government of Odisha. 28 May 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20140810072354/http://www.odisha.gov.in/portal/LIWPL/event_archive/Events_Archives/45Vasant_Panchami.pdf. 10 August 2014.
  5. Book: Natarajan. Nalini. Nelson. Emmanuel Sampath. Natarajan. Nalini. Nelson. Emmanuel Sampath. Handbook of Twentieth-century Literatures of India. 1996. Greenwood Publishing Group. 978-0-313-28778-7. 187. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170707224951/https://books.google.com/books?id=1lTnv6o-d_oC&pg=PA187. 7 July 2017.
  6. Book: Surendran, K. V.. Indian Women Writers: Critical Perspectives. 1999. Sarup & Sons. 978-81-7625-072-6. 163. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170930232527/https://books.google.com/books?id=6t22x7xoG6AC&pg=PA163. 30 September 2017.
    • Book: Roger T. Ames. Ames. Roger T.. Kasulis. Thomas P.. Dissanayake. Wimal. Ames. Roger T.. Kasulis. Thomas P.. Dissanayake. Wimal. Self as Image in Asian Theory and Practice. 1998. SUNY Press. 978-0-7914-2725-5. 163. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180203083346/https://books.google.com/books?id=uLQ0bTkUfJ8C. 3 February 2018.
  7. Book: Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature . Sahitya Akademi . Datta, Amaresh . 1987 . 298 . 978-81-260-1803-1 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20160822025440/https://books.google.com/books?id=ObFCT5_taSgC&pg=PA298 . 22 August 2016 . dmy-all .
  8. Web site: Nation honours Dr Rajendra Prasad on his 53rd death anniversary. Rediff.com. 28 February 2016. 29 May 2016. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20160502175508/http://www.rediff.com/news/report/nation-honours-dr-rajendra-prasad-on-his-53rd-death-anniversary/20160228.htm. 2 May 2016.
  9. Book: Sweet, Gentle, Radiant: Selected Poems of G. Sankara Kurup. xi. Sahitya Akademi. 2001. Krishnakumar, Bhaskaramenon. 978-81-260-1341-8. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20160807124316/https://books.google.com/books?id=p3_dIkCdTcsC&pg=PR11. 7 August 2016.
  10. The Jnanpith Award: All the past awardees from 1965 to now.. Outlook India. 25 July 2003. 20 May 2016. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20160611135156/http://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/the-jnanpith-award/220855. 11 June 2016.
  11. News: Poet's visual expression. 5 May 2013. 22 May 2016. The Telegraph. Kolkota . Soumitra Das . Sreyoshi Dey . Showli Chakraborty . https://web.archive.org/web/20160629224647/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1130505/jsp/calcutta/story_16858588.jsp. 29 June 2016.
  12. News: Literary Trust Launches Programme to Honour Masti. The New Indian Express. 10 June 2015. 22 May 2016. Vasudev, Chetana Divya. Gavipuram. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20160611161109/http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/bengaluru/Literary-Trust-Launches-Programme-to-Honour-Masti/2015/06/10/article2857923.ece. 11 June 2016.
  13. Crowning achievement. India Today. 4 January 2014. 22 May 2016. Pillai, Sreedhar. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20160624223214/http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/novelist-thakazhi-sivasankara-pillai-gets-coveted-jnanpith-award-for-1984/1/354421.html. 24 June 2016.
  14. News: Sachidananda Routray passes away. 22 August 2004. 22 May 2016. Bhubaneswar. https://web.archive.org/web/20180203083346/http://www.thehindu.com/2004/08/22/stories/2004082201361100.htm. The Hindu. 3 February 2018.
  15. News: Telugu writer Ravuri Bharadwaja honoured with Jnanpith award. 22 May 2016. Deccan Chronicle. Hyderabad. https://web.archive.org/web/20160924160855/http://archives.deccanchronicle.com/130418/news-current-affairs/article/telugu-writer-ravuri-bharadwaja-honoured-jnanpith-award. 24 September 2016.
  16. Aini Apa (1927–2007). Outlook India. 21 August 2007. 22 May 2016. Naim, C. M.. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20160611174323/http://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/aini-apa-1927-2007/235376. 11 June 2016.
  17. Jnanpith for 1990 awarded to well-known Kannada writer Vinayak Krishna Gokak. India Today. 30 November 1991. 22 May 2016. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20160624174238/http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/jnanpith-for-1990-awarded-to-well-known-kannada-writer-vinayak-krishna-gokak/1/319139.html. 24 June 2016.
  18. News: Everyman's poet bids final farewell: Obituary [Subhas Mukhopadhyay]]. 9 July 2003. 22 May 2016. The Telegraph. Kolkota. https://web.archive.org/web/20160303210134/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1030709/asp/bengal/story_2146569.asp. 3 March 2016.
  19. News: The Spirit of Poetry. The Pioneer. Srivastava, K. K.. 1 March 2015. 22 May 2016. Bangalore. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20160701004132/http://www.dailypioneer.com/sunday-edition/agenda/books/the-spirit-of-poetry.html. 1 July 2016.
  20. News: UR Ananthamurthy, renowned Kannada writer, dies in Bangalore. The Times of India. Rao, Sunitha. R.. 22 August 2014. 22 May 2016. Bangalore. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20150923073546/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/UR-Ananthamurthy-renowned-Kannada-writer-dies-in-Bangalore/articleshow/40697927.cms. 23 September 2015.
  21. Mahasweta Devi and Habib Tanvir appointed as National Research Professors. Press Information Bureau, India. 2 March 2006. 20 May 2016. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20160611042747/http://pib.nic.in/newsite/erelcontent.aspx?relid=16092. 11 June 2016.
  22. The Prime Minister Shri Atal Behari Vajpayee presenting the 33rd Jnanpith Award. Press Information Bureau, India. 5 June 1998. 20 May 2016. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170510123531/http://pib.nic.in/archieve/phtgalry/pgyr98/pg0698/0806981.html. 10 May 2017.
  23. The Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee presenting the prestigious Jnanpith Award for the year 1998. Press Information Bureau, India. 27 March 1999. 21 May 2016. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170510123525/http://pib.nic.in/archieve/phtgalry/pg0399/pg30mr99/3003992.html. 10 May 2017.
    • The multi-faceted playwright. Frontline. 16. 3. 1999. Menon, Parvathi. Bangalore. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20130922233330/http://www.frontline.in/navigation/?type=static&page=flonnet&rdurl=fl1603%2F16031170.htm. 22 September 2013.
  24. News: Nirmal Verma, Gurdial Singh jointly get Jnanpith Award. 11 March 2000. 20 May 2016. New Delhi. https://web.archive.org/web/20180203083155/http://www.thehindu.com/2000/03/11/stories/0211000b.htm. The Hindu. 3 February 2018.
  25. The Vice President Shri Krishan Kant presenting the 36th Bhartiya Jnanpith Award. Press Information Bureau, India. 24 February 2002. 20 May 2016. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170510123536/http://pib.nic.in/archieve/phtgalry/pgyr2002/pg022002/pg24feb2002/240220022.html. 10 May 2017.
  26. News: Third Gujarati to win Jnanpith. 18 July 2003. 20 May 2016. New Delhi. https://web.archive.org/web/20040229105134/http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/2003/07/18/stories/2003071803681200.htm. The Hindu. 29 February 2004.
  27. News: Jnanpith award for Jayakanthan. The Times of India. 20 March 2005. 20 May 2016. New Delhi/Chennai. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180203083355/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Jnanpith-award-for-Jayakanthan/articleshow/1056950.cms. 3 February 2018.
  28. President's address at the conferment of 39th Jnanpith Award for 2003. Press Information Bureau, India. 10 August 2006. 20 May 2016. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20160611040801/http://pib.nic.in/newsite/erelcontent.aspx?relid=19789. 11 June 2016.
  29. 40th Jnanpith Award to Eminent Kashmiri Poet Shri Rahman Rahi. 9 March 2007. 21 May 2016. Bharatiya Jnanpith. https://web.archive.org/web/20090407121508/http://jnanpith.net/images/40thJnanpith_Declared.pdf. 7 April 2009 .
  30. 41st Jnanpith Award to Eminent Hindi Poet Shri Kunwar Narayan and 42nd Jnanpith Award jointly to Eminent Konkani Poet and Author Shri Ravindra Kelekar and Sanskrit Poet and Scholar Shri Satya Vrat Shastri . 22 November 2008 . 21 May 2016 . Bharatiya Jnanpith . https://web.archive.org/web/20100215175046/http://www.jnanpith.net/images/Press-Release-41st-%26-42nd-Awards.pdf . 15 February 2010 .
  31. Prime Minister's Speech at The Conferment of 43rd Jnanpith Award at Thiruvananthapuram. Press Information Bureau, India. 11 February 2011. 21 May 2016. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20160611040706/http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=69774. 11 June 2016.
  32. News: Doyen of Urdu poetry Shahryar presented Jnanpith Award. The Hindu. 19 September 2011. 20 May 2016. New Delhi. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20140620053503/http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/doyen-of-urdu-poetry-shahryar-presented-jnanpith-award/article2467289.ece. 20 June 2014.
  33. News: Amar Kant, Shrilal Shukla, Kambar win Jnanpith Award. The Hindu. 20 September 2011. 20 May 2016. New Delhi. https://web.archive.org/web/20121103102912/http://www.thehindu.com/arts/books/article2470528.ece?homepage=true. 3 November 2012.
  34. Address of the Hon'ble President on the Occasion of Conferring the Jnanapith Award for the Year 2010 on Dr.Chandrashekhara Kambar. Press Information Bureau, India. 11 October 2012. 20 May 2016. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20160610210917/http://pib.nic.in/newsite/erelcontent.aspx?relid=88353. 10 June 2016.
  35. Speech by the President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee at the presentation of 47th Jnanpith Award to Dr. Pratibha Ray. Press Information Bureau, India. 22 May 2013. 20 May 2016. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20160610212433/http://pib.nic.in/newsite/erelcontent.aspx?relid=96155. 10 June 2016.
  36. Web site: 48th Jnanpith Award to Eminent Telugu Littérateur Shri Ravuri Bharadhwaja. Bharatiya Jnanpith. 17 April 2013. 20 May 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304060721/http://www.jnanpith.net/sites/default/files/Press%20Release%2048th%20Jnanpith%20Award.pdf. 4 March 2016.
  37. Web site: Kedarnath Singh chosen for Jnanpith. The Hindu. 21 June 2014. 20 May 2016. New Delhi. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20140707045937/http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/kedarnath-singh-chosen-for-jnanpith/article6135361.ece. 7 July 2014.
  38. Web site: 50th Jnanpith Award to Eminent Marathi Littérateur Shri Bhalchandra Nemade. Bharatiya Jnanpith. 6 February 2015. 20 May 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160611165857/http://jnanpith.net/sites/default/files/50th%20Jnanpith%20Award%20to%20Eminent%20Marathi%20Litterateur%20Shri%20Bhalachandra%20Nemade.pdf. 11 June 2016.
  39. Web site: 51st Jnanpith Award to Eminent Gujarati Littérateur Shri Raghuveer Chaudhari. Bharatiya Jnanpith. 29 December 2015. 20 May 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160123170516/http://jnanpith.net/sites/default/files//tmp/51stJnanpithAwardDeclared.pdf. 23 January 2016.
  40. News: Acclaimed Bengali poet Shankha Ghosh to get 2016 Jnanpith Award. Daily News Analysis. 23 December 2016. 23 December 2016. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20161223115010/http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-acclaimed-bengali-poet-shankha-ghosh-to-get-2016-jnanpith-award-2285768. 23 December 2016.
  41. News: Hindi writer Krishna Sobti chosen for Jnanpith Award. The Hindu. 3 November 2017. 6 November 2017. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180203083346/http://www.thehindu.com/books/hindi-writer-krishna-sobti-chosen-for-jnanpith-award/article19976100.ece. 3 February 2018.
  42. News: Author Amitav Ghosh honoured with 54h Jnanpith award. The Times of India. 14 December 2018. 14 December 2018. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20181214160559/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com//india/author-amitav-ghosh-honoured-with-54h-jnanpith-award/articleshow/67093276.cms. 14 December 2018.
  43. News: Malayalam poet Akkitham wins 55th Jnanpith Award. New Delhi. 29 November 2019. 25 August 2020. The Hindu. 15 September 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200915182355/https://www.thehindu.com/books/malayalam-poet-akkitham-wins-55th-jnanpith-award/article30116908.ece. live.
  44. News: 4 January 2022. Damodar Mauzo wins Jnanpith Award, here's all you need to know about the renowned Goan writer. https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/damodar-mauzo-wins-jnanpith-award-heres-all-you-need-to-know-about-the-renowned-goan-writer. www.freepressjournal.in. 4 January 2022.
  45. Web site: Jnanpith . 6 Sep 2023 . Jnanpith dot net . 3 October 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191003072538/http://www.jnanpith.net/laureates.html?id=3 . live .
  46. News: Damodar Mauzo wins Jnanpith Award, here is all you need to know about the renowned goan writer. FreePress Journal.in. 7 December 2021. 8 December 2021. 7 December 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211207120709/https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/damodar-mauzo-wins-jnanpith-award-heres-all-you-need-to-know-about-the-renowned-goan-writer. live.
  47. News: Gulzar, Sanskrit scholar Rambhadracharya selected for Jnanpith Award. The Indian Express. 17 February 2024. 17 February 2024. 17 February 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240217112144/https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/art-and-culture/gulzar-rambhadracharya-jnanpith-award-9166698/. live.
  48. News: The Hindu . 17 February 2024 . Gulzar, Sanskrit scholar Rambhadracharya selected for Jnanpith Award . https://web.archive.org/web/20240217151932/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/gulzar-sanskrit-scholar-rambhadracharya-selected-for-jnanpith-award/article67857170.ece . 17 February 2024 . 17 February 2024 . en-IN.

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