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Vinod Kumar Shukla (88), a poet-writer from Raipur, was announced as the recipient of the 59th Jnanpith Award on Saturday.
He called the recognition a responsibility, stating, "This is a big award in my life. It gives me a sense of responsibility."
He is the 12th Hindi writer and the first from Chhattisgarh to receive this prestigious award.
The Jnanpith Award is India’s highest literary honor.
The award includes:
A cash reward of ₹11 lakh
A bronze statue of Saraswati (Hindu goddess of learning)
The Jnanpith Award is India's oldest and highest literary award. It's given annually to an author for their "outstanding contribution towards literature". The award was established in 1961 and first awarded in 1965.
The Award considers both English and other Indian languages. However, eligibility is restricted to Indian citizens. It is not given posthumously.
It is presented by Bharatiya Jnanpith to recognize outstanding contributions to Indian literature.
Bharatiya Jnanpith, established in 1944 by Sahu Shanti Prasad Jain and his wife Rama Jain, is a prestigious literary and research organization headquartered in New Delhi, India.
It is renowned for nurturing literature and culture, it has been actively promoting literary endeavours such as awards, publications, fellowships, and research for several decades.
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