Chennai: The Tamil Nadu government has decided to honour the finest literary works published in different Indian languages. In the first phase, the award will be bestowed to authors of seven languages including Odia.
Besides south India’s Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam, the other chosen languages are Bengali and Marathi.
Announcing the institution of the annual Semmozhi Illakiya Virudhu (Classical Language Literary Award), Tamil Nadu chief minister and DMK president MK Stalin explained that his government had taken the decision in response to last-minute cancellation of Sahitya
Akademi Awards 2025.
“Literature knows no boundaries. It is the bridges that connect us,” Stalin said at the valedictory function of the Chennai International Book Fair. “Due to political interventions by the Union government and short-sightedness, this year’s Sahitya Akademi Award has not been announced. As an appropriate response to this, national-level awards will be given from the Tamil Nadu government.”
Slamming the Union Culture Ministry’s decision last month, Stalin said such political interference in art and literature is “dangerous”.
He said writers and representatives of literary organisations had urged him to respond constructively to the Sahitya Akademi Award cancellation, and the government also felt such a response was the need of the hour.
The award carries a cash prize of Rs 5 lakh for each language.
“To ensure transparency and quality, a committee will be set up for each language with literary experts and other reputed members,” Stalin said.