Current news:

=> Assamese poet Nilmani Phookan won the 56th Jnanpith Award and Konkani novelist Damodar Mauzo won the 57th Jnanpith Award.

Jnanpith Award:

=> It is the highest literary award in India and is given annually for the best creative literary writing to writers in any of the 22 “scheduled languages” recognized in the Indian Constitution.

=> It is sponsored by the cultural organization Bharatiya Jnanpith.

=> It was instituted in 1961, and the first award was given in 1965.

=> The prize carries a cash award of Rs 11 lakh, a citation, and a bronze replica of Vagdevi (Saraswati), the goddess of learning.

Birendra Kumar Bhattacharyya:

=> Birendra Kumar Bhattacharya is the first Assamese recipient of Jnanpith Award.

=> He was awarded Jnanpith award in 1980 for his novel Mrityunjay(Immortal).

=> His first novel was “Rajpathe Ringiyai” (1955)

=> He was awarded Sahitya Akademi Award in 1961 for his Assamese novel Iyaruingam.

=> Iyaruingam is the first Assamese novel to win Sahitya Akademi Award.

=> He was the editor of the megazine Ramdhenu.

=> Ramdhenu magazine ushered in western modernism in Assamese literature and Ramdhenu Era is considered to be one of the most productive phases of Assamese literature.

=> Short stories collection - Kalang ajio boi, Satsari, etc.

Points to remember:

=> First Assamese woman to win Jnanpith Award - Indira Goswami

=> First Assamese to win Sahitya Akademi Award - Jatindranath Duwara for his book Bonphool (poetry)

=> First Assamese novel to win Sahitya Akademi Award - Iyaruingam

=> First Assamese woman to win Sahitya Akademi Award - Nalinibala Devi for Alakananda (poetry)