The Sahitya Akademi recently honored 23 authors with its prestigious Sahitya Akademi Award for 2024.

• The awards were conferred during the Sahityotsav: Festival of Letters on March 8, 2025.

About Sahitya Akademi

• Genesis: Established in 1954 and registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860.
• Structure: Functions as an autonomous body under the Ministry of Culture.
• Role: Undertakes literary activities in 24 languages, including 22 scheduled languages, English, and Rajasthani.
• Major Awards
• • Sahitya Akademi Award: Recognizes exceptional literary works.
  • Bhasha Samman: Honors significant contributions to Indian languages.

About the Sahitya Akademi Award

• The award recognizes outstanding literary contributions across multiple genres, including novels, poetry, essays, plays, and short stories.
• Objective
• • Aims to recognize and promote excellence in Indian writing.
  • Encourages the preservation and growth of Indian languages and literature
• Given annually to Indian nationals for outstanding literary works.
• Awarded only once to an author in a specific language.
• Recognizes works in 22 scheduled languages, English, and Rajasthani.
• Includes translated works of Indian literature.
• Conferred by Sahitya Akademi, India’s National Academy of Letters.
• Considered India’s second-highest literary honor, after the Jnanpith Award.
• Awardees receive a plaque, a shawl, and ₹1 lakh.

Notable Awardees of 2024

• Sohan Koul received the Sahitya Akademi Award for his Kashmiri novel Psychiatric Ward, while Paul Kaur was honored for her Punjabi poetry collection Sun Gunvanta Sun Budhivanta: Itihaasnama Punjab.
• Gagan Gill (Hindi poetry) and Easterine Kire (English novel, Spirit Nights) were among the 23 distinguished recipients, showcasing India’s linguistic and literary diversity.