Annual Report 2018–2019 Sahitya Akademi (National Academy of Letters) President : Dr Chandrashekhar Kambar Vice-President : Sri Madhav Kaushik Secretary : Dr K. Sreenivasarao ............................................CONTENTS Sahitya Akademi 5 Projects and Schemes 8 Highlights of 2018–2019 12 Awards 13 – Sahitya Akademi Award 2018 15 – Sahitya Akademi Prize For Translation 2018 19 – Yuva Puraskar 2018 23 – Bal Sahitya Puraskar 2018 27 Programmes 31 – Sahitya Akademi Awards 2018 Presentation Ceremony 32 – Sahitya Akademi Prize For Translation 2017 Presentation Ceremony 55 – Sahitya Akademi Yuva Puraskar 2018 Presentation Ceremony 58 – Bal Sahitya Puraskar 2018 Presentation Ceremony 63 – Seminars, Symposia, Writers’ Meets, etc. 68 List of Programmes organized by Sahitya Akademi in 2018–2019 152 Governing Body, Regional Board Meetings and Language Advisory Boards held in 2018–2019 180 Book Exhibitions / Book Fairs 183 Books Published 191 Annual Accounts 231 SAHITYA AKADEMI (National Academy of Letters) Sahitya Akademi, India’s premier Institution levels, more than 100 Symposia and a large of Letters, preserves and promotes literature number of birth centenary seminars and in 24 languages of India recognized by it. It symposia, in addition to more than 400 literary organizes programmes, confers Awards and gatherings, workshops and lectures. Meet the Fellowships on writers in Indian languages, Author (where a distinguished writer talks about and publishes books throughout the year and his / her works and life), Samvatsar Lectures in 24 recognized languages. (given by a distinguished writer / creative Over the past six decades, the Akademi has thinker who has a thorough understanding of published over 7000 books in 24 languages. Indian literature), Kavi Anuvadak (provides The Akademi publishes original works and also opportunity for the audience to enjoy poetry in works in translation – fiction, poetry, drama both the original language and in translation), and criticism – covering classical, medieval, People and Books (where distinguished persons pre-modern and contemporary literature. The from interdisciplinary areas deliver lectures), Akademi is also involved in promoting quality Kathasandhi (a programme where a novel in children’s literature. the process or recently published short stories are read and discussed), Kavisandhi (providing Akademi Awards are the most prestigious poetry lovers an opportunity to hear the literary awards in India. Sahitya Akademi poetry being read out by the poet herself/ Award (awarded to the most outstanding himself), Loka (a programme on folklore book(s) of literary merit published in the 24 comprising lectures and performances), Nari Indian languages recognized by the Akademi.) Chetna (a programme to provide platform for Bhasha Samman (given to writers / scholars / women writers writing in Indian languages), editors / collectors / performers / translators Yuva Sahiti (a programme to encourage young who have made considerable contribution to writers writing in different Indian languages), the propagation and enrichment of languages Purvottari (a platform aimed at providing that have not been recognized by the Akademi opportunities for writers from North-East in addition to stellar contributions to the to showcase their talent) Gramalok (Village research into classical and medieval literature Outreach Programme), Translation Workshops of the country), Translation Prize (given to (bringing together translators from different outstanding translations in all the 24 languages parts of the country), Book Discussion recognized by the Akademi), Bal Sahitya (a platform where Akademi publications Puraskar (given to outstanding contributions are discussed) and Bhasantara Anubhava to children’s literature in 23 languages) and (Multilingual poetry readings) are some of Yuva Puraskar (given to young Indian writers the popular programmes of the Akademi. in 23 languages) are the awards instituted by The Akademi organizes Festival of Letters the Akademi. every year to celebrate Indian writing. Sahitya Every year the Akademi hosts at least 50 Akademi promotes Tribal and Oral Literature Seminars at regional, national and international in the country through its Centre for Tribal Annual Report 2018–2019 5 and Oral Literature in Delhi and North-East Srinivasa Iyengar, Vice President, was designated Centre for Oral Literature in Imphal. as the Acting President. In February 1978, Prof. The Akademi also confers Fellowships on Umashanar Joshi was elected as the President. eminent Indian writers and foreign scholars In February 1983, Prof. V.K. Gokak was elected who have served Indian literature. Ananda the President and in February 1988, Dr. B.K. Coomaraswamy Fellowship for scholars from Bhattacharyya was elected. Prof. U.R. Anantha Asian countries to pursue literary projects Murthy became the President in 1993. Sri and Premchand Fellowship for scholars doing Ramakanta Rath was elected President in 1998, research on Indian literature from SAARC after whom Prof. Gopi Chand Narang became countries are two other prominent Fellowships President in 2003. Sri Sunil Gangopadhyay was of the Akademi. elected President in 2008. Prof Vishwanath Prasad Tiwari was elected President in 2013. The Monographs on Indian writers under General Council was reconstituted for the term Makers of Indian Literature (MIL) series, 2018–2022, and elected Dr. Chandrashekhar Encyclopaedias and Anthologies are some of Kambar as its President in 2018. the major projects undertaken by the Akademi. The Ministry of Culture has also entrusted The Constitution Sahitya Akademi with the Indian Literature Abroad project for translating, projecting and The Sahitya Akademi was established by promoting Indian works of literature globally. a resolution passed by the Government of Through this, Sahitya Akademi supports and India on 15 December, 1952, in which the facilitates the promotion of Indian literary Constitution of the Akademi was originally heritage and translation of contemporary Indian embodied. The Akademi functions as an literature into major foreign languages. The autonomous organization and the power to Akademi is also involved in Cultural Exchanges amend its Constitution rests with the General with different countries and sends and receives Council of the Akademi. This power has been writers’ delegations every year besides taking exercised from time to time. part in literary festivals and book fairs abroad. Languages Recognized The President Besides the twenty-two languages The first President of the Sahitya Akademi enumerated in the Constitution of India, was Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru. He was re-elected in the Sahitya Akademi also recognizes English 1963. After his demise in May 1964, the General and Rajasthani as languages in which its Council elected Dr. S. Radhakrishnan as the programmes are to be implemented. There are President of the Sahitya Akademi. Then, after Language Advisory Boards, which have been the reconstitution of the General Council, Dr. constituted to render advice for implementing Zakir Husain was elected as the President of literary programmes in the twenty-four the Sahitya Akademi in 1968. After his demise languages recognized by the Akademi. The in May 1969, the General Council elected Dr. following are the languages recognized by the Suniti Kumar Chatterji as the President. He was Akademi: Assamese, Bengali, Bodo, Dogri, re-elected by the General Council in February English, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, 1973. After his death in May 1977, Prof. K.R. Konkani, Maithili, Malayalam, Manipuri, 6 Annual Report 2018–2019 Marathi, Nepali, Odia, Punjabi, Rajasthani, of Regional Office to Bengaluru. Chennai Sub- Sanskrit, Santali, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu and regional office is responsible for programmes Urdu. and publications in Tamil and is located at Guna Complex, Main Building, (II Floor) The Organization Rear Side, 443 (Old No. 304) Anna Salai, Teynampet, Chennai. Head Office: The Head Office of the Sahitya Akademi is housed in Rabindra Bhavan, 35 Regional Office, Mumbai: The Regional Ferozeshah Road, New Delhi. This building Office of Sahitya Akademi at Mumbai was set up was constructed in 1961 to commemorate in 1972 and is located at 172, Mumbai Marathi the birth centenary of Rabindranath Tagore, Grantha Sangrahalya Marg, Dadar, Mumbai. It and houses all the three National Akademis, looks after the publications and programmes namely, the Sangeet Natak Akademi, the Lalit in Gujarati, Konkani, Marathi and Sindhi. This Kala Akademi and the Sahitya Akademi. The regional office also maintains a library. Head Office is responsible for publishing Sale of Publications: Sahitya Akademi’s publications and organizing programmes Sales Section is at “Swati”, Mandir Marg, New in eleven languages, that is, Dogri, English, Delhi. Its publications are also sold at its offices Hindi, Kashmiri, Maithili, Nepali, Punjabi, at Mumbai, Kolkata, Bengaluru and Chennai, Rajasthani, Sanskrit, Santali and Urdu. besides sales outlets in Kashmere Gate and Regional Office, Kolkata: The Regional Vishwavidyala metro stations in New Delhi. Office of Sahitya Akademi at Kolkata was set It also started selling its books on Amazon up in 1956 and is located at 4 D.L. Khan Road, (www.amazon.in) and Sahitya Akademi’s www. Kolkata. The Regional Office of Kolkata is sahitya-akademi.gov.in responsible for publications and programmes Library: The Sahitya Akademi Library in Assamese, Bengali, Bodo, Manipuri and is one of the largest multilingual libraries in Odia, along