Manu S Pillai, Paro Anand among winners of Sahitya Akademi awards 2017

The Sahitya Akademi announced the winners of its Yuva Puraskar and Bal Sahitya Puraskar 2017 on June 22. Poetry was the top genre in the Yuva Puraskar awards list with 16 poetry collections across 24 languages winning the award. Other winners included five short story collections, two biographies and a book of essays.

The Yuva Puraskar, awarded annually for the first book or best book by an author of age 35 and below, entails a cash prize of Rs 50,000 and a copper plaque. Kashmiri poet Nighat Sahiba received the award for her collection Zard Panike Dair, Aswathy Sasikumar for her short story collection (Josephinte Manam) in Malayalam, while Manu S Pillai and Rahul Kosambi were awarded for The Ivory Throne (the biography of the last queen of Travancore; English) and Ubha-Aadava (essays in Marathi), respectively.

For the complete list of winners, click here.

The winners of the Bal Sahitya Puraskar, awarded to books in 24 languages, are selected by a three-member jury from each language. Those who have published children’s books in the five years preceding the year of the award, qualify for it. Ten writers received the award for their contribution to children’s writing, and not just specific books. The awardees will receive a copper plaque and Rs 50,000 at a ceremony on Children’s Day (November 14) 2017.

While Assamese writer Horendra Nath Borthakur and Bodo writer Renu Boro received the award for their contribution to children’s literature, Sudesh Raj (Jangal Di Sair, Dogri), Paro Anand (Wild Child and Other Stories, English), Wareppam Jugindra Singh (Angangi Wari Macha Niphu, Manipuri) were among those who received it for their short story collections.

For the complete list of winners, click here.

Source: Hindustan Times