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'{{Use Indian English|date=August 2015}} {{Infobox organization |name = Sahitya Akademi |image = File:Rabindra Bhawan, Delhi.jpg |image_border = |size = <!-- default 200 --> |alt = <!-- alt text; see [[WP:ALT]] --> |caption = Rabindra Bhawan, Delhi which houses the [[Sangeet Natak Akademi]], [[Lalit Kala Akademi]] and Sahitya Akademi | logo =Sahitya Akademi logo.jpeg | logo_size = | logo_alt = | logo_caption = logo of Sahitya Akademi |map = <!-- optional --> |msize = <!-- map size, optional, default 200px --> |malt = <!-- map alt text --> |mcaption = Sahitya Akademi main building<!-- optional --> |abbreviation = SA |motto = |formation = {{Start date and years ago|1954|03|12}} |extinction = <!-- date of extinction, optional --> |type = |status = <!-- ad hoc, treaty, foundation, etc --> |purpose = <!-- focus as e.g. humanitarian, peacekeeping, etc --> |headquarters = Rabindra Bhawan, [[Delhi]] |location = [[New Delhi]], [[India]] |coords = <!-- Coordinates of location using a coordinates template --> |region_served = [[India]] |membership = |language = |publication = *[[Indian Literature (journal)|Indian Literature]] |leader_title = President<!-- position title for the leader of the org --> |leader_name = Dr. Vishwanath Prasad Tiwari |main_organ = <!-- gral. assembly, board of directors, etc --> |parent_organisation = [[Ministry of Culture (India)|Ministry of Culture]], [[Government of India]]<!-- if one --> |affiliations = <!-- if any --> |num_staff = |num_volunteers = |budget = |website = [http://sahitya-akademi.gov.in/ sahitya-akademi.gov.in] |remarks = }} The '''Sahitya Akademi''', [[India]]'s National Academy of Letters, is an organisation dedicated to the promotion of [[literature]] in the [[languages of India]].<ref name=hota>{{cite book|last=Hota|first=AK|title=Encyclopaedia of New Media and Educational Planning|year=2000|publisher=`|isbn=978-81-7625-170-9|pages=310–12|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=y1IW8UwPfzUC&pg=PA311}}</ref> Founded on 12 March 1954, it is supported by, though independent of, the Indian government. It is in Rabindra Bhavan near [[Mandi House]] in [[Delhi]]. The Sahitya Akademi organises national and regional workshops and seminars; provides research and travel grants to authors; publishes books and journals, including the Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature; and presents the annual [[Sahitya Akademi Award]] of Rs. 100,000 (approx. USD 1,500 (in year 2013)) in each of the 24 languages it supports, as well as the [[List of Sahitya Akademi fellows|Sahitya Akademi Fellowship]] for lifetime achievement. Along with the national Sahitya Akademi there are government bodies at the state level named after the region it represents. These regional academies of letters award and honor writers of their regions every year. The cash awards are given away in a formal ceremony held in the state's capital. The awardees are selected through a blind evaluation by a jury of three members of notable literary qualification. The Sahitya Akademi Library is one of the largest multi-lingual libraries in India, with a rich collection of books on literature and allied subjects. It publishes two bimonthly literary journals: ''[[Indian Literature (journal)|Indian Literature]]'' in English and ''Samkaleen Bharatiya Sahitya'' in Hindi.<ref name=hota/><ref>{{cite web|title=National Academies: Sahitya Akademi|url=http://india.gov.in/knowindia/sahitya.php|work=[[Government of India]]|accessdate=1 January 2011}}</ref> == Languages== The Sahitya Akademi supports work in [[List of Sahitya Akademi Award winners for English|English]], [[List of Sahitya Akademi Award winners for Hindi|Hindi]], and [[List of Sahitya Akademi Award winners for Urdu|Urdu]] as well as the following regional languages: *[[List of Sahitya Akademi Award winners for Assamese|Assamese]] *[[List of Sahitya Akademi Award winners for Bengali|Bengali]] *[[List of Sahitya Akademi Award winners for Bodo|Bodo]] *[[List of Sahitya Akademi Award winners for Dogri|Dogri]] *[[List of Sahitya Akademi Award winners for Gujarati|Gujarati]] *[[List of Sahitya Akademi Award winners for Kannada|Kannada]] *[[List of Sahitya Akademi Award winners for Kashmiri|Kashmiri]] *[[List of Sahitya Akademi Award winners for Konkani|Konkani]] *[[List of Sahitya Akademi Award winners for Maithili|Maithili]] *[[List of Sahitya Akademi Award winners for Malayalam|Malayalam]] *[[List of Sahitya Akademi Award winners for Manipuri|Manipuri]] *[[List of Sahitya Akademi Award winners for Marathi|Marathi]] *[[List of Sahitya Akademi Award winners for Nepali|Nepali]] *[[List of Sahitya Akademi Award winners for Odia|Oriya]] *[[List of Sahitya Akademi Award winners for Punjabi|Punjabi]] *[[List of Sahitya Akademi Award winners for Rajasthani|Rajasthani]] *[[List of Sahitya Akademi Award winners for Sanskrit|Sanskrit]] *[[List of Sahitya Akademi Award winners for Santhali|Santhali]] *[[List of Sahitya Akademi Award winners for Sindhi|Sindhi]] *[[List of Sahitya Akademi Award winners for Tamil|Tamil]] *[[List of Sahitya Akademi Award winners for Telugu|Telugu]] == History == The idea of constituting a National Academy of Letters in India was considered by the colonial British government, and in 1944 a proposal from the Royal Asiatic Society of Bengal for the formation of a 'National Cultural Trust' was, in principle, accepted. The original plan conceived of three institutions, or academies, devoted to the visual arts, performing arts, and letters.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|title=Five Decades of The National Academy of Letters, India: A Short History of Sahitya Akademi|last=Rao|first=D.S.|publisher=Sahitya Akademi|year=2004|isbn=|location=New Delhi|pages=7–8}}</ref> The independent Government of India carried out this proposal, constituting a National Academy of Letters, called the 'Sahitya Akademi' by a government resolution on 15 December 1952.<ref name=":0" /> The first General Council of the Akademi included members such as [[Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan|S. Radhakrishnan]], [[Abul Kalam Azad]], [[C. Rajagopalachari]], [[K. M. Panikkar|K.M. Panikkar]], [[Kanaiyalal Maneklal Munshi|K.M. Munshi]], [[Zakir Husain (politician)|Zakir Hussain]], [[Umashankar Joshi]], [[Mahadevi Varma]], [[D. V. Gundappa]], [[Ramdhari Singh Dinkar]], and was presided over by the then-Prime Minister, [[Jawaharlal Nehru]].<ref name=":0" /> The Government of India clarified that the choice of Prime Minister Nehru as the first chairperson was "not because he is Prime Minister, but because he has carved out for himself a distinctive place as a writer and author."<ref name=":0" /> The Sahitya Akademi was formally inaugurated on 12 March 1954 in New Delhi. A ceremony was held in the [[Parliament of India|Indian Parliament]]'s Central Hall, with speeches by Maulana [[Abul Kalam Azad]] and [[Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan|S. Radhakrishnan]]. S. Radhakrishnan elaborated on the purpose of the Sahitya Akademi in his speech, noting that, <blockquote>"The phrase, Sahitya Akademi, combines two words. 'Sahitya' is Sanskrit, and 'Academy' is Greek. This name suggests our universal outlook and aspiration. Sahitya is a literary composition; Academy is an assembly of men who are interested in the subject. So Sahitya Akademi will be an assembly of all those who are interested in creative and critical literature. It is the purpose of this Akademi to recognise men of achievement in letters, to encourage men of promise in letters, to educate public taste and to improve standards of literature and literary criticism."<ref name=":0" /></blockquote> A key concern in the early days of the Sahitya Akademi was the establishment of its autonomy from the Central Government. This concern was echoed by the Prime Minister, who noted that, "...it is an honour to be the President of an organisation which includes it in its fold the eminent writers of India in various languages. As President of that Akademi I may tell you quite frankly, I would not like the Prime Minister to interfere in my work."<ref>{{Cite book|title=Five Decades of The National Academy of Letters, India: A Short History of Sahitya Akademi|last=Rao|first=D.S.|publisher=Sahitya Akademi|year=2004|isbn=|location=New Delhi|pages=12}}</ref> The first Council made recommendations to amend the Akademi's governing constitution, including proposals to have the chairman elected by the Council and not appointed by the Government.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book|title=Five Decades of The National Academy of Letters, India: A Short History of Sahitya Akademi|last=Rao|first=D.S.|publisher=Sahitya Akademi|year=2004|isbn=|location=|pages=9–11}}</ref> Some of these suggestions were incorporated, and the Akademi was constituted as a society under the Societies Registration Act of 1860, as it had not originally been incorporated by an Act of Parliament, but by an executive order.<ref name=":1" /> The Council was reconstituted and elected Prime Minister Nehru as its president, and he continued in that capacity until his death in 1964.<ref name=":1" /> Subsequent presidents of the Sahitya Akademi have included [[Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan|S. Radhakrishnan]] (1958) who succeeded Jawaharlal Nehru after serving as the Vice-President along with him; [[Zakir Husain (politician)|Zakir Hussain]] (1963); [[Suniti Kumar Chatterji|Suniti Kumar Chatterjee]] (1967); [[K. R. Srinivasa Iyengar|K.R. Srinivasa Iyengar]] (1969, and re-elected in 1973); [[Umashankar Joshi]] (1978); [[Birendra Kumar Bhattacharya]] (1983); [[U. R. Ananthamurthy]] (1993); [[Ramakanta Rath]] (1998); and [[Gopi Chand Narang]] (2003).<ref name=":2">{{Cite book|title=Five Decades of The National Academy of Letters, India: A Short History of Sahitya Akademi|last=Rao|first=D. S.|publisher=Sahitya Akademi|year=2004|isbn=|location=New Delhi|pages=12–16}}</ref> Sunil Gangopadhyay was elected president in 2008,<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/Gangopadhyay-elected-Sahitya-Akademi-president/article15171067.ece|title=Gangopadhyay elected Sahitya Akademi president|work=The Hindu|access-date=2017-03-22|language=en}}</ref> and held office until his death in 2012.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/litterateur-and-sahitya-akademi-president-sunil-gangopadhyay-dies-502527|title=Litterateur and Sahitya Akademi president Sunil Gangopadhyay dies|work=NDTV.com|access-date=2017-03-22}}</ref> The current president is [[Vishwanath Prasad Tiwari]]. The Akademi has never elected a female president although, in 2003, [[Mahasweta Devi]] unsuccessfully contested [[Gopi Chand Narang]] for the position.<ref name=":2" /> == Constitution and structure == [[File:Sahitya Akademi Regional Office Banglore.jpg|thumb|Sahitya Akademi Regional Office at Banglore]] The Sahitya Akademi was constituted by the Government of India by a resolution passed on December 15, 1952.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://sahitya-akademi.gov.in/sahitya-akademi/aboutus/the_constitution.jsp|title = The Constitution|date = |accessdate = November 21, 2014|website = Sahitya Akademi|publisher = |last = Sahitya Akademi|first = }}</ref> It was formally inaugurated on March 12, 1954.<ref name="Sahitya Akademi - About Us">{{cite web|url = http://sahitya-akademi.gov.in/sahitya-akademi/aboutus/about.jsp|title = Sahitya Akademi - About Us|date = |accessdate = November 21, 2014|website = Sahitya Akademi|publisher = |last = |first = }}</ref> It initially functioned under executive order, but was subsequently registered as a society under the Indian Societies Registration Act, 1860.<ref name="Sahitya Akademi - About Us"/> The constitution of the Sahitya Akademi provides that it shall be run by three authorities — a General Council, an Executive Board, and a Finance Committee.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://sahitya-akademi.gov.in/sahitya-akademi/aboutus/the_constitution.jsp|title = Constitution of the Sahitya Akademi, Section 5|date = |accessdate = November 21, 2014|website = Sahitya Akademi|publisher = |last = |first = }}</ref> The General Council is empowered to elect a president and vice-president, from a panel of three candidates chosen by the Executive Board.<ref name="sahitya-akademi.gov.in">{{cite web|url = http://sahitya-akademi.gov.in/sahitya-akademi/aboutus/the_constitution.jsp|title = Constitution of the Sahitya Akademi, Section 4|date = |accessdate = November 21, 2014|website = Sahitya Akademi|publisher = |last = |first = }}</ref> In addition to these, the Executive Board appoints a secretary, who functions as both the Secretary of the Akademi and as ex-officio secretary of all three governing bodies.<ref name="sahitya-akademi.gov.in"/> === General Council === The General Council of the Sahitya Akademi operates for a term of five years, following which it is reconstituted. It meets once a year and performs several important functions, including appointing the Akademi's president and vice-president, electing members of the Executive Board, framing rules and procedures for the Akademi, and electing fellows on the recommendation of the Board.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://sahitya-akademi.gov.in/sahitya-akademi/aboutus/the_constitution2.jsp|title = Constitution of the Sahitya Akademi, 'Functions of the General Council'|date = |accessdate = November 21, 2014|website = Sahitya Akademi|publisher = |last = |first = }}</ref> The General Council consists of the following members:<ref>{{cite web|url = http://sahitya-akademi.gov.in/sahitya-akademi/aboutus/the_constitution2.jsp|title = Constitution of the Sahitya Akademi, 'General Council'|date = |accessdate = November 21, 2014|website = Sahitya Akademi|publisher = |last = |first = }}</ref> * The president and the financial advisor. The current president of the Sahitya Akademi is Dr. Vishwanath Prasad Tiwari.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://sahitya-akademi.gov.in/sahitya-akademi/aboutus/other_members1.jsp|title = 'Organisation Chart' Sahitya Akademi|date = |accessdate = November 21, 2014|website = Sahitya Akademi|publisher = |last = |first = }}</ref> * Five persons nominated by the Government of India, including one each from the [[National Book Trust]], the Department of Culture, and the [[Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (India)|Ministry of Information and Broadcasting]] * One person from each state and union territory in India (these are to be nominated by the outgoing General Council, based on recommendations from the states and union territories) * One person to represent each language supported by the Sahitya Akademi (nominated by the outgoing General Council) * A representative each, from a maximum of 20 universities, with post-graduate departments in the humanities (selected by the outgoing Council) * Eight other persons from the field of letters (nominated from by the outgoing General Council) * Representatives from the [[Sangeet Natak Akademi]], the [[Lalit Kala Akademi]], the [[Indian Council for Cultural Relations]], the Raja Rammohun Roy Library, and a representative from an Indian publisher based on recommendations from publishers' associations. === Executive Board === The Executive Board of the Sahitya Akademi exercises executive authority and is responsible for supervising and controlling the Akademi's work. It prepares the Akademi's annual budget, appoints the secretary, and prepares panels of nominees for the General Council to consider and select fellows.<ref name="ReferenceA">{{cite web|url = http://sahitya-akademi.gov.in/sahitya-akademi/aboutus/the_constitution2.jsp|title = Constitution of the Sahitya Akademi, 'Executive Board'|date = |accessdate = November 21, 2014|website = Sahitya Akademi|publisher = |last = |first = }}</ref> It consists of the president, the vice-president, the financial advisor, two of the Government of India's nominees in the General Council (one of whom must represent the Ministry of Culture) and one person to represent each of the Akademi's supported languages, as nominated by the General Council.<ref name="ReferenceA"/> === Finance Committee === The Finance Committee's role is to prescribe the limit for total expenditure by the Sahitya Akademi in a financial year, and consider and recommend budget estimates to the Executive Board. The Finance Committee consists of a financial advisor, a nominee from the Government of India, a representative each from the General Council and Executive Board, and the vice-president of the Akademi.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://sahitya-akademi.gov.in/sahitya-akademi/aboutus/the_constitution2.jsp|title = Constitution of the Sahitya Akademi, 'Finance Committee'|date = |accessdate = November 21, 2014|website = Sahitya Akademi|publisher = |last = |first = }}</ref> The accounts of the Sahitya Akademi are audited by the Auditor General of India.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://sahitya-akademi.gov.in/sahitya-akademi/aboutus/the_constitution2.jsp|title = Constitution of the Sahitya Akademi, 'Audit'|date = |accessdate = November 21, 2014|website = Sahitya Akademi|publisher = |last = |first = }}</ref> == Publications and activities == The Sahitya Akademi publishes several regular publications, in addition to its bi-monthly journal, ''[[Indian Literature (journal)|Indian Literature]]''. It undertakes bibliographic surveys, conducts translation workshops, seminars, and an annual festival of letters. === Publications === The Sahitya Akademi publishes bibliographies, compilations, and critical editions in addition to publishing individual works and anthologies of literature and translation in the 24 languages that it supports. Amongst other things, it publishes the National Bibliography of Indian Literature (NBIL), an ongoing selective index of publications in 24 languages.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://sahitya-akademi.gov.in/sahitya-akademi/projects-schemes/nbil.jsp|title = National Bibliography of Indian Literature|date = 1962–1974|accessdate = November 26, 2014|website = Sahitya Akademi|publisher = |last = |first = }}</ref> The first series of the NBIL consisted of four volumes, spanning literature published between 1901 to 1953.<ref>{{Cite book|title = The National Bibliography of Indian Literature: 1901 - 1953|last = |first = |publisher = Sahitya Akademi|year = 1962–1974|isbn = |location = |pages = }}</ref> The Sahitya Akademi has stated that the second series will cover literature published between 1954 and 2000. The second series will consist of 16 volumes, of which seven have been published.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://sahitya-akademi.gov.in/sahitya-akademi/projects-schemes/nbil.jsp|title = National Bibliography of Indian Literature|date = |accessdate = November 26, 2014|website = Sahitya Akademi|publisher = |last = |first = }}</ref> In addition, the Sahitya Akademi has published the ''Collected Works of [[Maulana Abul Kalam Azad|Maulana Azad]]'' in Urdu and Telugu, and critical editions of books by [[Kālidāsa|Kalidasa]], [[Bankimchandra Chatterjee]], and [[Rabindranath Tagore]].<ref name="Sahitya Akademi: Publications">{{cite web|url = http://sahitya-akademi.gov.in/sahitya-akademi/publications/publication.jsp#independence|title = Sahitya Akademi: Publications|date = |accessdate = November 26, 2014|website = Sahitya Akademi|publisher = |last = |first = }}</ref> The Sahitya Akademi maintains reference materials for Indian literature, including the National Register of Translators, the Who's Who of Indian Writers,<ref>{{cite web|title=Sahitya Akademi : Who's Who of Indian Writers|url=http://sahitya-akademi.gov.in/sahitya-akademi/SASearchSystem/sauser/searchWriters.jsp|website=Sahitya Akademi|publisher=Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi|accessdate=October 2015}}</ref> and the Who's Who of [[Sanskrit]] literature.<ref name="Sahitya Akademi: Publications"/> Two ongoing series of reference material are the ''Makers of Indian Literature'', which consist of biographical monographs on Indian writers, and ''Histories of Indian Literature'', 18 of which have been published thus far.<ref name="Sahitya Akademi: Publications"/> === Activities === The Sahitya Akademi holds over 100 programmes related to Indian literature every year across India. It holds frequent seminars on Indian literature, as well as translation workshops.<ref name="ReferenceB">{{cite web|url = http://sahitya-akademi.gov.in/sahitya-akademi/literaray-activities/index_literary_activities.jsp|title = Sahitya Akademi: Literary Activities|date = |accessdate = November 26, 2014|website = Sahitya Akademi|publisher = |last = |first = }}</ref> In addition, it holds several regular and annual events, including a Festival of Letters and the Samvatsar Annual Lecture. ==== International seminars ==== The Sahitya Akademi periodically holds International Seminars, sometimes in collaboration with the [[Indian Council for Cultural Relations]]. The first international seminar was held in 1961, in New Delhi, to mark 100 years since the birth of [[Rabindranath Tagore]]. About 25 writers from 16 countries, along with 39 writers from India met over four days to discuss and commemorate Tagore's works. Attendees included [[Aldous Huxley]], [[Martin Wickramasinghe|Martin Wickremesinghe]], [[Jean Guéhenno|Jean Guehenno]], [[Zaki Naguib Mahmoud]], [[Isaiah Berlin]], and [[Louis Untermeyer]]<ref>{{Cite book|title=Five Decades of The National Academy of Letters, India: A Short History of Sahitya Akademi|last=Rao|first=D.S.|publisher=Sahitya Akademi|year=2004|isbn=|location=New Delhi|pages=62–64}}</ref> as well as [[Amrita Pritam]], Ramdhari Sinha Dinkar, Rayaprolu Subba Rao, and [[Premendra Mitra]]. In 1991, the Akademi organised a second International Seminar on Tagore in collaboration with the [[Sangeet Natak Akademi]], the [[Lalit Kala Akademi]] and the [[Indian Council for Cultural Relations]]. The Akademi's second International Seminar in 1975 was also held in New Delhi and focused on the Ramayana tradition in Asia. Participants, including U Thein Han, Soewito Santoso, Harry M. Buck, C.E. Godakumbra, Kapila Vatsyayan, Camille Bulke and Umashankar Joshi, presented 44 papers on Ramayana traditions, which were published by the Akademi in a commemorative volume.<ref name=":3">{{Cite book|title=Five Decades of The National Academy of Letters, India: A Short History of Sahitya Akademi|last=Rao|first=D.S.|publisher=Sahitya Akademi|year=2004|isbn=|location=New Delhi|pages=65}}</ref> A second International seminar on the same theme was held in New Delhi in 1981.<ref name=":3" /> International Seminars have since been held to mark the birth centenary of Hindi-language writer [[Premchand]], in 1981; to mark the birth centenary of Tamil-language poet [[Subramania Bharati|Subramania Bharti]] in 1983; on the [[Mahabharata]], in 1987; and on 'the Narrative' in 1990.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Five Decades of The National Academy of Letters, India: A Short History of Sahitya Akademi|last=Rao|first=D.S.|publisher=Sahitya Akademi|year=2004|isbn=|location=New Delhi|pages=66–67}}</ref> ==== Annual Festival of Letters ==== The Sahitya Akademi's Annual Festival of Letters is held in February and is the occasion at which the Akademi presents its [[Sahitya Akademi Award|awards]]. The festival is accompanied by an exhibition that covers major literary events of the previous year, as well as a 'Writers' Meet' which is a literary seminar spanning three days.<ref name="ReferenceB"/> ==== Samvatsar Annual Lecture ==== The Samvatsar Annual Lecture is organised by the Sahitya Akademi and is delivered during the Akademi's Annual Festival of Letters. The Sahitya Akademi notes that these lectures "should open up new vistas of thinking regarding a literary movement, a current literary trend, some original thinking about a great writer or a great classic or a new path in literary criticism or literary creation".<ref>{{cite web|url = http://sahitya-akademi.gov.in/sahitya-akademi/literaray-activities/samvatar_lectures.jsp|title = Sahitya Akademi: Samvatsar Lectures|date = November 26, 2014|accessdate = |website = Sahitya Akademi|publisher = |last = |first = }}</ref> The Lectures have been delivered since 1986 by people including the Hindi writer [[Sachchidananda Vatsyayan]] (1986), Marathi poet and writer [[Vinda Karandikar]] (1991), Assamese novelist [[Nabakanta Barua]] (1994), and Malayalam author and director, [[M T Vasudevan Nair]] (1999).<ref name="Samvatsar Lectures">{{cite web|url = http://sahitya-akademi.gov.in/sahitya-akademi/literaray-activities/samvatar_lectures.jsp|title = Samvatsar Lectures|date = |accessdate = November 26, 2014|website = Sahitya Akademi|publisher = |last = |first = }}</ref> In 2014, the lecture was delivered by [[Girish Karnad]], a Kannada playwright and author.<ref name="Samvatsar Lectures"/> The most recent lecture was delivered by Dr. [[Chandrashekhar Shankar Dharmadhikari]], an author, lawyer, and former judge in the [[Mumbai High Court|Bombay High Court]] on 17 February 2016.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://sahitya-akademi.gov.in/sahitya-akademi/pdf/press-release-12-02-16.pdf|title=Press Release|last=Sahitya Akademi|first=|date=12 February 2016|website=Sahitya Akademi|archive-url=http://sahitya-akademi.gov.in/sahitya-akademi/pdf/press-release-12-02-16.pdf|archive-date=12 February 2016|dead-url=|access-date=22 March 2017}}</ref> ===='Meet the Author' programmes==== The Sahitya Akademi organises regular public interactions with published Indian authors. These sessions, titled 'Meet the Author' consist of a 40-minute lecture by the invited author followed by an open session of questions and discussions.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://sahitya-akademi.gov.in/sahitya-akademi/literaray-activities/loka.jsp|title = Sahitya Akademi: Loka, the Many Voices|date = |accessdate = November 26, 2014|website = Sahitya Akademi|publisher = |last = |first = }}</ref> 'Meet the Author' programmes have been conducted in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, and Bengaluru. Over 180 authors have participated to date.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://sahitya-akademi.gov.in/sahitya-akademi/literaray-activities/meet_the_author.jsp|title = Sahitya Akademi: Meet the Author|date = |accessdate = November 26, 2014|website = Sahitya Akademi|publisher = |last = |first = }}</ref> To complement this, the Sahitya Akademi has held a parallel lecture series titled 'Men in Books' in which the Akademi invites persons distinguished for interdisciplinary studies to speak about literature. Notable speakers in the past have included film-maker [[Adoor Gopalakrishnan]], journalist Dilip Padgaonkar, lawyer [[Laxmi Mall Singhvi]], and former Prime Minister [[Atal Bihari Vajpayee]].<ref>{{cite web|url = http://sahitya-akademi.gov.in/sahitya-akademi/literaray-activities/men_and_books.jsp|title = Sahitya Akademi: Men and Books|date = |accessdate = November 26, 2014|website = Sahitya Akademi|publisher = |last = |first = }}</ref> ====Kavi Anuvadak==== The Kavi Anuvadak programmes, started in 2001, consist of a live performance of poetry in the original language and in translation. Nine Kavi Anuvadaks have been held to date, featuring, amongst others, [[K. Satchidanandan]], [[Manglesh Dabral]], and [[Ayyappa Paniker]].<ref>{{cite web|url = http://sahitya-akademi.gov.in/sahitya-akademi/literaray-activities/kavi_anuvadak.jsp|title = Sahitya Akademi: Kavi Anuvadak|date = |accessdate = November 26, 2014|website = Sahitya Akademi|publisher = |last = |first = }}</ref> ====Sahitya Akademi Award==== [[Sahitya Akademi Award]] ([[Devnagari]]: साहित्य अकादमी पुरस्कार) is a literary honor in India which Sahitya Akademi annually confers on writers of the most outstanding books of literary merit published in any of the major Indian languages recognised by the Akademi. ====Yuva Puraskar==== Sahitya Akademi conferres annually the [[Yuva Puraskar]] to young writers (under 35 years) of outstanding works in one of the 24 major Indian languages. It was founded in 2011.<ref name="timesofindia-economictimes 2015">{{cite web | title=Some Sahitya Yuva Puraskar awardees 'condemn' intolerance | website=timesofindia-economictimes | date=2015-11-19 | url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2015-11-19/news/68412654_1_sahitya-akademi-religious-intolerance-young-writers | accessdate=2016-05-05}}</ref> ====Other programmes==== Other programmes organised by the Sahitya Akademi include the Mulakat lectures, a special platform for lesser-known authors;<ref>{{cite web|url = http://sahitya-akademi.gov.in/sahitya-akademi/literaray-activities/mulakat.jsp|title = Sahitya Akademi : Mulakat|date = |accessdate = November 26, 2014|website = Sahitya Akademi|publisher = |last = |first = }}</ref> the Through My Window lectures, in which one author speaks on the works of another Indian author;<ref>{{cite web|url = http://sahitya-akademi.gov.in/sahitya-akademi/literaray-activities/through_my%20_window.jsp|title = Sahitya Akademi: Through my Window|date = |accessdate = November 26, 2014|website = Sahitya Akademi|publisher = |last = |first = }}</ref> and the Loka programmes on Indian folklore and the Kavisandhi poetry readings.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://sahitya-akademi.gov.in/sahitya-akademi/literaray-activities/kavisandhi.jsp|title = Sahitya Akademi : Kavisandhi|date = |accessdate = November 26, 2014|website = Sahitya Akademi|publisher = |last = |first = }}</ref> == Controversies and Parliamentary Committee reviews == There have been widespread allegations of corruption and controversial appointments<ref>{{cite news|last1=Balakrishnan|first1=Deepa|title=Sahitya Akademi in Ruins Literally|url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/sahitya-academy-in-ruins-literally/12569-3-1.html|work=IBN Live|date=June 9, 2006}}</ref> under the Presidency of [[Gopi Chand Narang]] who headed Sahitya Akademi from 2003 to 2007 and the current President Vishwanath Prasad Tiwari.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.outlookindia.com/printarticle.aspx?230676 |title=Bibliofile |website=Outlookindia.com |date=2006-03-27 |accessdate=2016-02-09 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924140059/http://www.outlookindia.com/printarticle.aspx?230676 |archivedate=2015-09-24 |df= }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.outlookindia.com/printarticle.aspx?223217 |title=Bibliofile |website=Outlookindia.com |date=2004-03-15 |accessdate=2016-02-09 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924140047/http://www.outlookindia.com/printarticle.aspx?223217 |archivedate=2015-09-24 |df= }}</ref> Agrahara Krishnamurthy, appointed as the Secretary of Sahitya Akademi by Narang, had undergone a CBI probe in a paper purchase scam at the time of his appointment,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.outlookindia.com/printarticle.aspx?231485 |title=War And No Peace |website=Outlookindia.com |date=2006-06-05 |accessdate=2016-02-09 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924140101/http://www.outlookindia.com/printarticle.aspx?231485 |archivedate=2015-09-24 |df= }}</ref> and was censured and forced to retire after being accused of financial irregularities in 2012.<ref>{{cite web|author= |url=http://www.deccanherald.com/content/274600/probe-against-agrahara.html |title=Probe against Agrahara |website=Deccanherald.com |date=2012-08-27 |accessdate=2016-02-09}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/hc-stays-penalty-imposed-on-poet/article6190727.ece |title=HC stays penalty imposed on poet |newspaper=[[The Hindu]] |date=2014-07-09 |accessdate=2016-02-09}}</ref> Agrahara Krishnamurthy who has been granted relief by the High Court<ref>{{cite news|last1=Nandakumar|first1=Pratibha|title=Truth prevails|url=http://www.bangaloremirror.com/entertainment/lounge/Truth-prevails/articleshow/38998241.cms|work=Bangalore Mirror|date=Jul 25, 2014}}</ref> has alleged a conspiracy against him by a cabal of writers and officials.<ref>{{cite news|title=Conspiracy behind my ouster: Agrahara Krishnamurthy|url=http://mathrubhuminews.in/ee/ReadMore/8251/conspiracy-behind-ousting-agrahara-krishnamoorthy/E|work=Matrubhumi News}}</ref> The appointment by a committee composed of Narang, Tiwari and others of the current Secretary K. Sreenivasa Rao, is controversial as Rao’s academic credentials for the top job, who had joined the Akademi as a lower division clerk (LDC), are said to be insufficient and extremely dubious. The 171st Parliamentary Standing Committee on the functioning of Sahitya Akademi and three other institutions chaired by [[Sitaram Yechury]] and tabled at the [[Loksabha]] in August 2011 states, "It was felt that most of these institutions were not able to live up to the original mandates set out by their founding fathers. Controversies of different kind involving these institutions that keep cropping up from time to time, had caught this Committee’s attention. Questions were also raised about the indifference and helplessness shown by the [[Ministry of Culture (India)|Ministry of Culture]] to do anything in the face of autonomy enjoyed by these institutions." The Committee also urged Sahitya Akademi to adopt the recommendation of the [[P. N. Haksar|Haksar]] Committee (1988) of having its head appointed by the President of India, a practice followed by [[Sangeet Natak Akademi|Sangeet Natak]] and [[Lalit Kala Akademi|Lalit Kala]] Akademies, to avoid "the inevitable complications of the existing system of elections."<ref>{{cite web|title=171st Report of Parliamentary Committee|url=http://www.rgics.org/test/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Functioning-of-Sahitya-Akadem-Lalit-Kala-Akademi-Sangeet-Natak-Akademi-and-National-School-of-Drama.pdf|publisher=Rajya Sabha Secretariat, New Delhi|deadurl=yes|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140819084016/http://www.rgics.org/test/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Functioning-of-Sahitya-Akadem-Lalit-Kala-Akademi-Sangeet-Natak-Akademi-and-National-School-of-Drama.pdf|archivedate=2014-08-19|df=}}</ref> === Controversial appointments === Many controversial appointments of unqualified candidates to key positions at the Sahitya Akademi, done during [[Gopi Chand Narang]]'s time, continue unchallenged to this day. Khurshid Alam and Mrignayani Gupta, both dismissed in 2004 for presenting counterfeit degree certificates, have made a backdoor entry and have been subsequently promoted to higher positions.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Srivastava|first1=Mihir|title=Scam charges cloud Sahitya Akademi|url=http://archive.tehelka.com/story_main7.asp?filename=Ne103004scame_charges.asp|agency=Tehelka|date=October 30, 2004|deadurl=yes|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140826115454/http://archive.tehelka.com/story_main7.asp?filename=Ne103004scame_charges.asp|archivedate=August 26, 2014|df=}}</ref> There have been widespread allegations in the Hindi press that the certificates of the current secretary, K. Sreenivasa Rao, who completed his M.Phil and PhD degrees while being employed as Deputy Secretary (Administration) at the Sahitya Akademi without availing a single day's leave, are fake and fraudulent.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Thakur|first1=Sunderchand|title=साहित्य अकादमी में फिर विवादास्पद नियुक्ति|url=http://navbharattimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1535663.cms|agency=Nav Bharat Times}}</ref> Appeals by the writers community to the Ministry of Culture to launch an inquiry have not yielded any result. === Sahitya Akademi Awards controversy === It has been alleged time and again that the procedure of nomination of litterateurs for the coveted [[Sahitya Akademi Award]]s is not transparent. The ground-list of books (from which the jury members make two short-lists and the final selection for the award) is supposed to be made by the General Council. But the books are provided to this council by the bureaucrats and employees of the Akademi who are allegedly unqualified to make any kind of literary selection.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Y.P. Rajesh|first1=Amit Prakash,|title=The Literary Mafia|url=http://www.outlookindia.com/article/The-Literary-Mafia/200102|work=Outlook Magazine|date=Nov 1, 1995}}</ref> Though the award regulations makes the recommendations of the Language Advisory Board mandatory, the recommendations of the board are often dismissed and ignored by the officials without citing any reason. This lack of transparency and rigour in the selection process has resulted in a lot of controversy. It has even resulted in writers being forced to return the award when it has been proven that the selection procedure was fraudulent, as was the case with the Sahitya Akademi award for a translation into [[Oriya language|Oriya]] in 1999.<ref>{{cite news|title=Probe sought into Sahitya Akademi affairs|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-otherstates/probe-sought-into-sahitya-akademi-affairs/article728959.ece|work=The Hindu|date=March 15, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Writer's plan to return Sahitya Akademi award sparks row|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-otherstates/writers-plan-to-return-sahitya-akademi-award-sparks-row/article581860.ece|work=The Hindu|date=August 19, 2010}}</ref> Sahitya Akademi is also highly criticized by writers such as [[Khushwant Singh]] for ignoring eminent writers and awarding below-par writers<ref>{{cite news|last1=Singh|first1=Khushwant|title=Prize manipulators: Sahitya Akademi under fire for awarding 'below par' authors|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/controversy-over-the-1991-sahitya-akademis-choice-of-author-exposes-its-flawed-functioning/1/308420.html|work=India Today|date=January 2, 2013 }}</ref> and sub-standard literary works.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Mrunalini|first1=C|title=Draupadi’s unending circle of suffering|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/lifestyle/books/article225606.ece?service=print|work=The New Indian Express|date=Jan 23, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Lulla|first1=Anil Budur|title=Disrobing Draupadi|url=http://www.openthemagazine.com/article/art-culture/disrobing-draupadi|work=Open Magazine|date=6 February 2010}}</ref> ==See also== * [[List of Sahitya Akademi Award winners]] * [[Jnanpith Award]] * [[Sahitya Kala Parishad]] ==References== {{Reflist|30em}} ==External links== {{commons category|position=left}} * [http://sahitya-akademi.gov.in/sahitya-akademi/ Sahitya Akademi website] * [http://sahitya-akademi.gov.in/sahitya-akademi/SASearchSystem/sauser/ Sahitya Akademi, Who's Who of Indian Writers, online edition] * [http://portal.unesco.org/culture/en/ev.php-URL_ID=3969&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html Sahitya Akademi (India)] at ''[[UNESCO]]'' {{Sahitya}} [[Category:Sahitya Akademi| ]] [[Category:Indic literature societies]] [[Category:Executive branch of the Indian government]] [[Category:Literary societies]] [[Category:National academies]] [[Category:Arts organisations based in Delhi]] [[Category:Arts organizations established in 1954]] [[Category:1954 establishments in India]]'