Sahitya Akademi Bhasha Samman
Sahitya Akademi has been giving annual awards to books of outstanding merit and annual prizes for outstanding translations in the 24 languages recognised by it.
However, the Akademi felt that in a multilingual country like India that has hundreds of languages and dialects, Akademi’s activities should be extended beyond the recognised ones by acknowledging and promoting literary creativity as well as academic research in non-recognised languages.
The Akademi, therefore, instituted Bhasha Samman in 1996 to be given to writers, scholars, editors, collectors, performers or translators who have made considerable contribution to the propagation, modernization or enrichment of the languages concerned.
The Samman carries a plaque, shawl, citation and a cheque for Rupees One Lakh [₹ 1,00,000].
The Sammans are given to 3-4 persons every year in different languages on the basis of recommendation of experts’ committees constituted for the purpose.
Procedure of Sahitya Akademi Bhasha Samman
THE ANNUAL SAHITYA AKADEMI BHASHA SAMMAN RULES
1. There will be 6 Bhasha Sammans to be given every year in two categories. Two of the Bhasha Sammans will be given to writers/scholars for outstanding contribution in the field of classical and medieval literature and four to be given on rotation to scholars/writers for outstanding contribution to any four languages not recognized by the Sahitya Akademi.
2. For Bhasha Samman in the field of classical and medieval literature work in all the recognized languages could be considered. It is not necessary for example that a work on Sanskrit classic is written in Sanskrit or a work on Indian Persian is written in Persian. It can be in English or any other recognized language. Works of scholarship on languages like Pali, Prakrit and Apabhramsa written in modern languages are also eligible. Editing work that involves genuine scholarship in classical languages and texts, reflected in the introduction, annotations, interpretations, authentication etc. might be considered as well.
For the Bhasha Samman in the unrecognized languages, writers, scholars, editors, collectors, lexicographers, researchers or translators who have done considerable contribution to the propagation, modernization or enrichment of the languages concerned could be considered. A work written in recognized languages including English also will be eligible for the award provided the subject matter related fully to the language chosen for the Samman. The works may be creative or critical. Outstanding lexicographical work, and works that relate to the study of the language structure, including pioneering works of grammar could also be considered.
3. Members of the Advisory Board of the Akademi and authors who have received any award from the Sahitya Akademi other than its Translation Prize are not eligible for consideration.
PROCEDURE
Bhasha Samman in the field of Classical and Medieval Literature
1. For the Bhasha Samman in the field of classical and medieval literature, members of the Advisory Board will be requested to suggest names of writers/scholars for consideration of the Bhasha Samman.
2. The President will constitute a Jury of three members from a panel of names suggested by the Language Development Board. The jury will consider the recommendations and select two writers/scholars for Bhasha Samman.
3. The recommendations of the Jury will be placed before the Executive Board for formal approval and declaration.
4. Names of the Jury members shall be made public simultaneously with the announcement of the Bhasha Samman.
Bhasha Samman for contribution to unrecognized language
1. Languages in which the Bhasha Samman should be given in a particular year will be decided by the Language Development Board.
2. A Jury of three members to be constituted by the President from a panel of names to be recommended by the Language Development Board/Members of the Language Development Board will recommend suitable scholars for the Bhasha Samman.
3. The recommendations of the Juries will be placed before the Executive Board for formal approval.
4. Names of the Jury members shall be made public simultaneously with the
announcement of the Bhasha Samman.
Winners of Sahitya Akademi Bhasha Samman
| S.N. | Awardees | Contribution |
| 2018 | ||
| 1 | Sri Gaganendra Nath Dash | Classical & Medieval Literature (Eastern) |
| 2 | Dr. Shailaja Shankar Bapat | Classical & Medieval Literature (Western) |
| 3 | Sri Harikrishna Dwivedi | Hariyanvi
(Jointly) |
| 4 | Dr.(Smt.) Shamim Sharma | |
| 2017 | ||
| 1 | Dr. Yogendra Nath Sharma ‘Arun’ | Classical & Medieval Literature (North) |
| 2 | Sri. G. Venkatasubbiah | Classical & Medieval Literature (South) |
| 3 | Dr. Haldhar Nag | Koshali-Sambalpuri
(Jointly)
|
| 4 | Dr. Prafulla Kumar Tripathy | |
| 5 | Sri H. Nengsong | Paite |
| 2016 | ||
| 1 | Dr. Shesh Anand Madhukar | Magahi |
| 2 | Prof. Madhukar Anant Mehendale | Classical & Medieval Literature (West) |
| 3 | Dr. Amrith Someshwar | Tulu |
| 2015 | ||
| 1 | Dr. Anand Prakash Dixit | Classical & Medieval Literature (Northern) |
| 2 | Sri Nagalla Guruprasada Rao | Classical & Medieval Literature (Southern) |
| 3 | Dr. Nirmal Minz | Kurukh |
| 4 | Professor Lozang Jamspal | Ladakhi
(Jointly) |
| 5 | Sri Gelong Thupstan Paldan | |
| 6 | Sri Harihar Vaishnav | Halbi |
| 7 | Dr. T.R. Damodaran | Sourashtra
(Jointly) |
| 8 | Smt. T.S. Saroja Sundararajan | |
| 2014 | ||
| 1 | Sri Acharya Munishwar Jha | Classical & Medieval Literature |
| 2 | Professor Shrikant Bahulkar | Classical & Medieval Literature |
| 3 | Sri Charu Chandra Pande | Kumauni
(Jointly) |
| 4 | Sri Mathuradutt Mathpal | |
| 2013 | ||
| 1 | Dr. K. Meenakshi Sundaram | Classical & Medieval Literature |
| 2 | Dr. Jaspal Singh | Classical & Medieval Literature |
| 3 | Sri Vasant Nirgune | Bhili |
| 2012 | ||
| 1 | Prof. Sumerchand Kesarichand Jain | Classical & Medieval Literature |
| 2 | Prof. Satyabati Giri | Classical & Medieval Literature |
| 3 | Sri Mahadeo Savji Andher (Guruji) | Warli |
| 4 | Prof. Motiraj Bhajnu Rathod | Banjara/Lambadi (Jointly) |
| 5 | Dr. Ramchandra Ramesh Arya | |
| 2011 | ||
| 1 | Dr. Vishwanath Tripathi | Classical & Medieval Literature |
| 2 | Dr. Puthussery Ramchandran | Classical & Medieval Literature |
| 3 | Prof. Sondar Singh Majaw | Khasi |
| 2010 | ||
| 1 | Sri Narayan Chandra Goswami | Classical & Medieval Literature, Assamese |
| 2 | Sri Hasu Yajnik | Classical & Medieval Literature, Sindhi |
| 3 | Prof. Taburam Taid | Mising |
| 4 | Sri Addanda C. Cariappa | Kodava (Jointly) |
| 5 | Smt Mandira Java Appanna | |
| 6 | Prof. S. S. Majaw | Khasi |
| 2009 | ||
| 1 | Dr. Gurdev Singh | Classical & Medieval Literature, Punjabi |
| 2 | Professor Korlapati Srirama Murthy | Classical & Medieval Literature, Telugu |
| 3 | Sri Niranjan Chakma | Chakma |
| 4 | Dr. Girijasankar Ray | Rajbanshi |
| 2008 | ||
| 1 | (late) Surendranath Satapathy | Classical & Medieval Literature, Oriya |
| 2 | Sri Vishvanath Anandarao Khaire | Classical & Medieval Literature, Marathi |
| 3 | Sri Vishwanath Pathak | Avadhi |
| 4 | Dr. Ram Naraian Sharma | Bundeli (Jointly) |
| 5 | Dr. Kailash Bihari Dwivedi | |
| 6 | Sri Sudama Prasad ‘Premi’ | Garhwali (Jointly) |
| 7 | Sri Prem Lai Bhatt | |
| 8 | Sri Madhav Joshi ‘Ashq’ | Kachchhi (Jointly) |
| 9 | Sri Tejpal Darshi Shah ‘Tej’ | |
| 2007 | ||
| 1 | Professor S. Settar | Classical & Medieval Literature, Kannada |
| 2 | Dr. Shashinath Jha | Classical & Medieval Literature, Maithili |
| 3 | Dr. Pratyoosh Guleri | Himachali Language & Literature (Jointly) |
| 4 | Dr. Gautam Chand Sharma | |
| 2006 | ||
| 1 | Prof. Hampa Nagarajaiah | Classical and Medieval Literature |
| 2 | Prof. Veturi Ananda Murthy | Classical and Medieval Literature |
| 3 | Sri Kilensowa Ao | Ao Language and Literature |
| 4 | Thada. Subramanyam | Sourashtra Language and Literature (Jointly) |
| 5 | Sri K.R. Sethuraman | |
| 2005 | ||
| 1 | Dr. L. Basavaraju | Classical and Medieval Literature |
| 2 | Dr. Narayan Hemandas | Classical and Medieval Literature |
| 3 | Sr. Bidor Sing Kro | Karbi |
| 4 | Dr. Douvituo Kuolie | Angami (Tenyidie) |
| 2004 | ||
| 1 | Prof. H.H. Mahamedhanandanath Saraswati (Pt. Dukhisyama Pattanayak) |
Classical and Medieval Literature |
| 2 | Prof. Kamalesh Datta Tripathi | Classical and Medieval Literature |
| 3 | Prof. Hira Lal Shukla | Gondi |
| 4 | Sri Binod Kumar Naik | Ho |
| 2003 | ||
| 1 | Dr. Kesavananda Dev Goswami | Classical and Medieval Literature |
| 2 | Dr. Mohammad Waris Kirmani | Classical and Medieval Literature |
| 3 | Sri Mangat Raveendra | Chhattisgarhi |
| 4 | Sri Bihari Lakra | Kurukh |
| 2002 | ||
| 1 | Sri Manik Dhanpalwar | Classical and Medieval Literature |
| 2 | Sri Madhu Ram Baro | Boro |
| 3 | Dr. Ram Prasad Singh | Magahi |
| 2001 | ||
| 1 | Sri T. Koteswar Rao | Classical and Medieval Literature |
| 2 | Sri. T.V. Venkatachala Sastry | Classical and Medieval Literature |
| 3 | Sri Mohammad Israil Asar | Gojri |
| 4 | Sri Moti B.A. | Bhojpuri |
| 2000 | ||
| 1 | Dr. Jayakanta Mishra | Classical and Medieval Literature |
| 2 | Sri Chimanlal Shivashankar Trivedi | Classical and Medieval Literature |
| 3 | Sri Krishna Patil | Ahirani |
| 4 | Passang Tshering Lepcha | Lepcha |
| 1999 | ||
| 1 | Prof. Shyam Manohar Pandey | Classical and Medieval Literature |
| 2 | Dr. S.V. Subramanian | Classical and Medieval Literature |
| 3 | Dr. M.M. Mundu | Mundari |
| 4 | Sri Llewellyn R. Marak | Garo |
| 1998 | ||
| 1 | Dr. Bhagawandas Kuberdas Patel | Bhili |
| 2 | Sri Tashi Rabgias | Ladakhi |
| 3 | Sri Dayanidhi Mallik | Kui |
| 1997 | ||
| 1 | Sri Devi Singh Khongdup | Khasi |
| 2 | Sri James Dokhuma | Mizo |
| 3 | Dr. Doman Sahu ‘Samir’ | Santhali |
| 1996 | ||
| 1 | Sri M.R. Thakur | Pahari (Jointly received) |
| 2 | Sri Bansi Ram Sharma | |
| 3 | Sri Mandara Keshava Bhat | Tulu (Jointly received) |
| 4 | Sri K. Jathappa Rai | |
| 5 | Sri Dharikshan Mishra | Bhojpuri |
| 6 | Sri Chandra Kanta Murasingh | Kokborok |