Annual Report 2017-18 Sahitya Akademi (National Academy of Letters) President : Dr Chandrashekhar Kambar Vice-President : Sri Madhav Kaushik Secretary : Dr K. Sreenivasarao CONTENTS New President and Vice President of Sahitya Akademi 4 Sahitya Akademi 5 Highlights of 2017-2018 9 Awards 10 - Sahitya Akademi Award 2017 11 - Sahitya Akademi Prize For Translation 2017 15 - Yuva Puraskar 2017 19 - Bal Sahitya Puraskar 2017 23 Programmes 27 - Presentation of Sahitya Akademi Awards 2017 28 - Presentation of Sahitya Akademi Prize For Translation 2016 39 - Presentation of Sahitya Akademi Yuva Puraskar 2017 42 - Presentation of Sahitya Akademi Bal Sahitya Puraskar 2017 44 - Seminars, Symposia And Conferences 48 List of Programmes organized by Sahitya Akademi in 2017-2018 106 Governing Body, Language Advisory Boards and Regional Board Meetings Held in 2017-2018 129 Projects and Schemes 130 Book Exhibitions / Book Fairs 134 Books Published 142 Annual Accounts 177 New President and Vice President of Sahitya Akademi The General Council of Sahitya Akademi, in its 188th meeting, elected two distinguished litterateurs, Dr Chandrashekhar Kambar and Sri Madhav Kaushik, as President and Vice President of Sahitya Akademi, respectively. Their tenure is for the period of five years between 2018 and 2022. Dr Chandrashekhar Kambar is a prominent of India, Jnanpith Award, Sahitya Akademi poet, playwright, folklorist, film director in Award, Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, Sangeet Kannada language and the founder Vice- Natak Akademi Fellowship, Kabir Samman, Chancellor of Kannada University in Hampi. Kalidas Samman, Nadoja Award, Pampa Award He is well-known for his effective adaptation and Karnataka Sahitya Akademi Award. of the North Karnataka dialect of the Kannada language in his plays, and poems. He was the Chairman, Karnataka Nataka Academy and Sri Madhav Kaushik is a renowned Hindi National School of Drama Society, New Delhi. poet and writer and has more than two dozen After a brief stint published books in teaching in to his credit the University of including poetry Chicago, he taught collections, short in Bangalore story collections University for and children over two decades. literature. Some He has 25 plays, of his books have 11 anthologies of been translated poems, 5 novels into other Indian and 16 research languages. He works to his credit, has also written besides several songs and scripts scholarly write-ups on folk theatre, literature for telefilms and has participated in a number of and education. His plays have been widely TV and radio programmes. His works have been translated and staged in many Indian languages included in the syllabus of some universities of and published in English. He has made five Punjab and he has been the former Secretary feature films and many documentaries for the of Chandigarh Sahitya Akademi and member, Government of Karnataka and Government of Governing Council, Haryana Sahitya Akademi. India, a few of which won national as well as He is the recipient of several awards including state awards. He also presented papers on Indian Haryana Sahitya Akademi Award, Babu Bal Folklore and Theatre in different universities in Mukund Gupta Award, All India Balraj Sahni India and abroad. He was a Fulbright Scholar Award, Rabindra Nath Vashishth Samman, and has been conferred with many prestigious Rashtriya Hindi Sewi Sahstrabdi Samman and awards including Padma Shri by Government Abra Simabi Samman. 4 Annual Report 2017-18 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, and Author (where a distinguished writer talks about publishes books throughout the year and in 24 his / her works and life), Samvatsar Lectures 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 pre-modern and contemporary literature. The persons from interdisciplinary areas deliver Akademi is also involved in promoting quality lectures), Kathasandhi (a programme where a children’s literature. novel in the process or recently published short Akademi Awards are the most prestigious stories are read and discussed), Kavisandhi literary awards in India. Sahitya Akademi (providing poetry lovers an opportunity to hear Award (awarded to the most outstanding the poetry being read out by the poet herself book(s) of literary merit published in the 24 / himself), Loka (a programme on folklore Indian languages recognized by the Akademi.), comprising lectures and performances), Nari Bhasha Samman (given to writers / scholars / Chetna (a programme to provide platform for editors / collectors / performers / translators women writers writing in Indian languages), who have made considerable contribution to Yuva Sahiti (a new programme to encourage the propagation and enrichment of languages young writers writing in different Indian that have not been recognized by the Akademi languages), Purvottari (a platform aimed in addition to stellar contributions to the at providing opportunities for writers from research into classical and medieval literature North-East to showcase their talent) Gramalok of the country), Translation Prize (given to (Village Outreach Programme) and Translation outstanding translations in all the 24 languages workshops (bringing together translators recognized by the Akademi), Bal Sahitya from different parts of the country) are some Puraskar (given to outstanding contributions of the popular programmes of the Akademi. to children’s literature in 24 languages) and The Akademi organizes Festival of Letters Yuva Puraskar (given to young Indian writers every year to celebrate Indian writing. Sahitya in 24 languages) are the awards instituted by the Akademi promotes Tribal and Oral Literature Akademi. in the country through its Centre for Tribal and Every year the Akademi hosts at least 50 Oral Literature in Delhi and North-East Centre Seminars at regional, national and international for Oral Literature in Imphal. Annual Report 2017-18 5 The Akademi also confers Fellowships on Joshi was elected as the President. In February eminent Indian writers and foreign scholars 1983, Prof. V.K. Gokak was elected the President who have served Indian literature. Ananda and in February 1988, Dr. B.K. Bhattacharyya Coomaraswamy Fellowship for scholars from was elected. Prof. U.R. Anantha Murthy became Asian countries to pursue literary projects the President in 1993. Sri Ramakanta Rath was and Premchand Fellowship for scholars doing elected President in 1998, after whom Prof. research on Indian literature from SAARC Gopi Chand Narang became President in 2003. countries are two other prominent Fellowships Sri Sunil Gangopadhyay was elected President of the Akademi. in 2008. Prof Vishwanath Prasad Tiwari was elected President in 2013. The General Council Monographs on Indian writers (MIL), was reconstituted for the term 2018-2022, and Encyclopaedias and Anthologies are some of elected Dr. Chandrashekhar Kambar as its the major projects undertaken by the Akademi. President in 2018. Recently, the Ministry of Culture has entrusted Sahitya Akademi with the new Indian Literature The Constitution Abroad project for translating, projecting and promoting Indian works of literature globally. The Sahitya Akademi was established by Through this, Sahitya Akademi supports and a resolution passed by the Government of facilitates the promotion of Indian literary India on 15 December, 1952, in which the heritage and translation of contemporary Constitution of the Akademi was originally embodied. The Akademi functions as an Indian literature into major foreign languages. autonomous organization and the power to The Akademi is also involved in Cultural amend its Constitution rests with the General Exchanges with different countries and sends Council of the Akademi. This power has been and receives several writers’ delegations every exercised from time to time. year besides taking part in literary festivals and book fairs abroad. Languages Recognized The President Besides the twenty-two languages enumerated in the Constitution of India, Sahitya The first President of the Sahitya Akademi Akademi also recognizes English and Rajasthani was Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru. He was re-elected as languages in which its programmes are to be in 1963. After his demise in May 1964, the implemented. There are Language Advisory General Council elected Dr. S. Radhakrishnan Boards, which have been constituted to render as the President of Sahitya Akademi. Then, after the reconstitution of the General Council, Dr. advice for implementing literary programmes Zakir Husain was elected as the President of the in the twenty-four languages recognized by Akademi in 1968. After his demise in May 1969, the Akademi. The following are the languages the General Council elected