Chennai: In a landmark move, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has announced an annual literary award to recognize outstanding works in Tamil, Telugu, Bengali, Marathi, and other Indian languages. The award, named “Semmozhi Ilakkiya Virudhu (Classical Language Literary Award),” will be presented by the state government and includes a cash prize of ₹5 lakh for each language.
Speaking at the closing ceremony of the Chennai International Book Fair, Chief Minister Stalin highlighted the need for such recognition following the cancellation of the Sahitya Akademi Awards, which he said occurred due to alleged political interference by the Union Ministry of Culture. He expressed concern over the uncertainty faced by writers and warned that political intervention in fields such as art and literature can be dangerous.
“Several authors and literary organizations approached me, urging a constructive response. It became clear that this is a timely initiative, and I wanted to announce a measure that would bring joy and recognition to literary talent,” he said.
In the first phase, the Semmozhi Ilakkiya Virudhu will honor exceptional literary works in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Odia, Bengali, and Marathi. Each language category will have a dedicated committee of eminent writers and experts, ensuring transparency and maintaining high standards in the selection process.
The Chief Minister emphasized that the Tamil Nadu government will act as a facilitator, while the awards’ selection will remain in the hands of independent specialists, safeguarding the credibility and quality of the recognition.
“This initiative reflects our commitment to nurturing literature across India’s diverse languages,” Stalin said, marking a significant step in celebrating and preserving the country’s rich literary heritage.
Discover more from SD NEWS agency
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.