Sahitya Akademi Award
さひてぃや・あかでみーしょう
A literary award presented annually by India's National Academy of Letters, Sahitya Akademi. It targets outstanding literary works published in multiple major languages.
Literary awardNational Literature AcademyLanguage-specific (Multiple Languages)
- Established
- 1954
- Organizer
- Sahitya Akademi (India's National Academy of Letters)
- Category
- Literature and General Literary Arts
- Selection Method
- Recommendation
- Target
- Professional
- Frequency
- 1 per year
- Status
- Active
Description
The Sahitya Akademi Award is a literary prize awarded annually by India's National Academy of Letters, Sahitya Akademi, established in 1954. It selects works based on literary merit and originality from books published in 24 languages, including the 22 languages listed in the 8th Schedule plus English and Rajasthani. Awards include a plaque presented by Sahitya Akademi (designed by Satyajit Ray) and a cash prize; according to Wikipedia, the prize money is ₹100,000 (Indian Rupees). The selection process spans the previous 12 months, with language-specific advisory boards and expert committees reviewing candidates. Note that specific deadlines and announcement dates vary by year, so confirmation on the official website is necessary.
Prize
- Main Prize
- Plaque (Trophy) and Cash Prize
- Cash Prize
- 100,000 INR
- Plaque (Satyajit Ray design)
- Honor and increased recognition from winning
Selection
Selection Process
| Stage | Judges | Pass Rate | Announcement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate Selection (Nomination/Nomination) | Recommendations and candidate extraction by language-specific advisory boards and expert committees | — | Internally select candidates to advance to the next stage |
| Committee Review (Primary/Secondary Screening) | Expert committees/selection panels for each language | — | Narrow down to final candidates |
| Final Decision and Announcement | Final approval by Sahitya Akademi's Executive Board or Selection Committee | — | Announced on official website and press releases |
Candidate Selection (Nomination/Nomination)
Judges
Recommendations and candidate extraction by language-specific advisory boards and expert committees
Announcement
Internally select candidates to advance to the next stage
Committee Review (Primary/Secondary Screening)
Judges
Expert committees/selection panels for each language
Announcement
Narrow down to final candidates
Final Decision and Announcement
Judges
Final approval by Sahitya Akademi's Executive Board or Selection Committee
Announcement
Announced on official website and press releases
Criteria
- Literary value (style and expression completeness)
- Originality and novelty
- Contribution to language and culture
- Eligibility such as publication year and edition information (must be published within the target period)
Application Tips
Dos
- Check target languages, target period, and selection methods in official information
- Confirm it is a formally published work (publication date and edition information are important)
- Enhance the work's literary completeness and uniqueness (depth of style and theme)
- Organize language-specific critiques, reviews, and reception status (useful as reference materials)
Don''ts
- Do not use unofficial procedures or incorrect application methods (selection may not be open call)
- Do not submit or apply with drafts of uncertain publication date or unfinished manuscripts
- Do not provide false information during the selection process
From Judges
- Emphasis not only on maturity of style and expression, but also on contribution to language and culture
- Balance of originality and universality, and sustained impact of the work are evaluated
- For translated works, both original and translation are assessed, so translation accuracy and terminology choices are important
Related Awards
- Sahitya Akademi Translation Prize
- Yuva Puraskar
- Bal Sahitya Puraskar
- Bhasha Samman
- Ananda Coomaraswamy Fellowships
- Premchand Fellowships
Official Resources
http://www.sahitya-akademi.gov.in/Past Winners
Sameer Tanti
Winner
Pharingbore Bator Kathaa Jane
Aron Raja
Winner
Swrni Thakhwi
Easterine Kire
Winner
Spirit Nights
Dileep Jhaveri
Winner
Bhagwan-ni Vato
Gagan Gill
Winner
Main Jab Tak Aai Bahar
K.V. Narayana
Winner
Nudigala Alivu
Sohan Koul
Winner
Psychiatric Ward
Mukesh Thali
Winner
Rangtarang
Mahendra Malangia
Winner
Prabandh Sangrah
K. Jayakumar
Winner
Pingalakeshini
Haobam Satyabati Devi
Winner
Mainu Bora Nungshi Sheiroi
Sudhir Rasal
Winner
Vindanche Gadyarop
Yuva Baral
Winner
Chichimira
Baishnab Charan Samal
Winner
Bhuti Bhakti Bibhruti
Paul Kaur
Winner
Sun Gunvanta Sun Budhivanta: Itihaasnamaa Punjab
Mukut Maniraj
Winner
Gaon Ar Amma
Dipak Kumar Sharma
Winner
Bhaskaracaritam
Maheswar Soren
Winner
Seched Sawnta Ren Andha Manm
Hundraj Balwani
Winner
Purzo
A.R. Venkatachalapathy
Winner
Tirunelveli Ezucciyum Vaa. Vuu.ci. Yum 1908
Penugonda Lakshminarayana
Winner
Deepika
Pranavjyoti Deka
Winner
Dr. Pranavjyoti Dekar Srestha Galpa
Swapnamay Chakrabarti
Winner
Jaler Upar Pani
Nandeswar Daimari
Winner
Jiu-Safarni Dakhwn
Vijay Verma
Winner
Daun Sadiyan Ek Seer
Vinod Joshi
Winner
Sairandhree
Lakshmisha Tolpadi
Winner
Mahabharatha Anusandhanada Bharathayatre
Manshoor Banihali
Winner
Yeth Waweh Halay Tsong Kous Zalay
Prakash S. Parienkar
Winner
Varsal
E.V. Ramakrishnan
Winner
Malayala Novelinte Deshakalangal
Sorokkhaibam Gambhini
Winner
Yachangba Nang Hallo
Krushnat Khot
Winner
Ringan
Judhabir Rana
Winner
Nepali Loksahitya Ra Loksanskritiko Parichaya
Ashutosh Parida
Winner
Aprastuta Mrutyu
Swarnjit Savi
Winner
Mann Di Chip
Arun Ranjan Mishra
Winner
Shunye Meghganam
Jaba Baha
Vinod Asudani
Winner
Hathu Pakidijain
Rajasekaran (Devibharathi)
Winner
Neervazhi Paduvum
Rameshwaram Kaakulu Marikonni Kathalu
Sadiqua Nawab Saher
Winner
Rajdev Ki Amrai
Manoj Kumar Goswami
Winner
Bhool Satya
Tapan Bandyopadhyay
Winner
Birbal
Rashmi Choudhury
Winner
Sansrini Modira
Veena Gupta
Winner
Chhe Roopak
Anuradha Roy
Winner
All The Lives We Never Lived
Gulammohammed Sheikh
Winner
Gher Jatan
Badri Narayan
Winner
Tumadi Ke Shabd
Mudnakudu Chinnaswamy
Winner
Bahutvada Bhaarata mattu Bouddha Taatvikote
Farooq Ahmad (Farooq Fayaz)
Winner
Zael Dab
Maya Anil Kharangate
Winner
Amrutvel
Ajit Azad
Winner
Pen-Drive Me Prithvi
M. Thomas Mathew
Winner
Ashaante Seethayanam
Koijam Shantibala Devi
Winner
Leironnung
Praveen Dashrath Bandekar
Winner
Ujavya Sondechya Bahulya
K.B. Nepali
Winner
Saino
Gayatribala Panda
Winner
Dayanadi
Sukhjit
Winner
Main Aynghosh Nahi
Kamal Ranga
Winner
Alekhun Amba
Deepmanikyam
Sabarnaka Balire Sanan' Panjay
Kanhaiyalal Lekhwani
Winner
Sindhi Sahit Jo Mukhtasar Itihas
M. Rajendran
Winner
Kaala Paani
Madhuranthakam Narendra
Winner
Manodharmaparagam
Khwab Saraab
Anuradha Sarma Pujari
Winner
Iyat Ekhan Aaronya Asil
Bratya Basu
Winner
Mirjafar O Anyanya Natak
Mwdai Gahai
Winner
Khora Sayao Arw Himalay
Raj Rahi
Winner
Namme Tunnel
Namita Gokhale
Winner
Things to Leave Behind
Daya Prakash Sinha
Winner
Samrat Ashok
D.S. Nagabhushana
Winner
Gandhi Kathana
Wali Mohd. Aseer Kashtawari
Winner
Tawazun
Sanjiv Verenkar
Winner
Raktachandan
George Onakkoor
Winner
Hrudayaragangal
Kiran Gurav
Winner
Baluchya Awasthantarachi Diary
Chhabilal Upadhyaya
Winner
Usha Anirudha
Hrushikesh Mallick
Winner
Sarijaithiba Apera
Khalid Hussain
Winner
Sullan Da Salan
Meethesh Nirmohi
Winner
Mugtee
Srijati Shankhnadam Kil, Kavita
Niranjan Hansda
Winner
Mane Rena Arhang
Arjun Chawla
Winner
Nena Nindakhra
Ambai
Winner
Civappuk Kazuttu Tan Oru Paccaip Paravai
Gorati Venkanna
Winner
Vallankitaalam
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