Projects and Schemes of Sahitya Akademi
For the benefit of writers’ community across India and to help the young and budding writers in all the 24 languages recognized by it, Sahitya Akademi has several projects and schemes running from time to time.
Following are the current projects and schemes:
Projects
Encyclopedia of Indian Poetics
Sabdana – A Centre for Translation
Archives of Indian Literature – Documentary Series
Indian Literature Abroad [ILA]
Schemes
Navodaya
National Register of Translators
Book Club
Projects
Sahitya Akademi currently has the following projects:
Encyclopedia of Indian Poetics
Sabdana – A Centre for Translation
Archives of Indian Literature – Documentary Series
Indian Literature Abroad
Encyclopedia of Indian Poetics
The poetics in India was much more developed long ago, much before the civilizations began in many parts of the world. Well developed poetical schemes are available in all the 24 languages recognized by the Akademi and also in many tribal and oral traditions of the country.
To document and preserve these traditions and yet the same time to pass on the information to the posterity, Sahitya Akademi undertook to compile and publish Encyclopedia of Indian Poetics with support from Union Academique Internationale (UAI).
The project is in the final stages and will be published in 2021.
Sabdana – A Centre for Translation
Sahitya Akademi has a center exclusive dedicated for undertaking translations of pre-modern classics, conduct varieties of translation workshops, organize literary events pertaining to translation and publish translation books. This center functions out of Sahitya Akademi Regional Office in Bengaluru.
Currently, Sabdana has begun to undertake translation and publication of modern classics that are not covered under any of Akademi’s language advisory boards. The center has also organized a series of translation workshops connecting many remote languages.
Similar translation center is situated in the Regional Office of Sahitya Akademi in Kolkata.
Archives of Indian Literature – Documentary Series
In a country that has since time immemorial largely relied on the oral tradition for dissemination of knowledge and information, lack of concern for documentation may seem natural. Yet in this age of information, this callousness seems more and more unpardonable.
It is this realization, though late, that has inspired us to imagine an archive of Indian literature that will be the seed of a unique Indian literary museum of the future, a delight to the common reader, the academic’s pride, the researcher’s paradise and a sacred center of pilgrimage to literary historians in the times to come.
Towards correcting this and stemming future lapses, Sahitya Akademi has set up a archival unit. As a first step Sahitya Akademi has started producing documentaries on eminent Indian writers in various languages of India to present to posterity films that capture the writers, their thoughts and influences first hand. These films strive to capture the spirit of their subjects through serious conversations, intimate chats, images of their everyday life.
One can access complete list of documentaries produced by Sahitya Akademi at
Indian Literature Abroad [ILA]
India is one of the most culturally and linguistically diverse countries in the world. Its history is rich and ancient. India has a vast depositary of literary works from ancient times and a number of masterpieces in every genre in all the main and recognized languages (contained in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution). Its oral traditions contain vast amount of literature that remain untouched till date.
However, over so many centuries, people from other lands have had very little access to the literary gems contained in many Indian languages except for few popular and religious works.
Most of the foreigners, therefore, either read Indian works written in English only or through few available translations. Such translations are few and far between. Much of modern Indian literature remains unrecognized and waiting to be thrown into the limelight in the global arena.
To remedy this situation, the Ministry of Culture, Government of India formulated the scheme – Indian Literature Abroad (ILA). Being India’s Premier Literary Institution, Sahitya Akademi was entrusted with the job of carrying out the Project Indian Literature Abroad (ILA).
The Ministry of Culture felt that a following scheme is required with the modalities for translating Indian Classical Literature / Modern Indian Classics / Masterpieces / Children’s Literature of India into 6 foreign languages recognized by the UNESCO – English, Spanish, French, Russian, Chinese and Arabic.
The project is in final stages of formalization with the Ministry. Once given approval, Sahitya Akademi will launch the Indian Literature Abroad [ILA] formally.
Under the scheme, grants will be provided for translations and collaborations will be opened up for publishers in the above languages in various countries across the globe.
Schemes
At present, for the benefit of writers in various segments, Sahitya Akademi has the following schemes. The number of schemes varies from time to time. Some new schemes are taken up after completion of the previous ones, while some schemes are permanent.
Navodaya
National Register of Translators
Book Club
Navodaya
Navodaya is a scheme of Sahitya Akademi through which any young author below the age of 40 can get her or his first book in original language published through Sahitya Akademi.
This scheme is available for the young writers in all the 24 languages recognized by Sahitya Akademi.
To be eligible for getting benefited under this scheme, author should be of age below 40, the manuscript they are submitting should not be a research work as part of some degree, the manuscript should not be a translation and it should be in original language [in any of the 24 languages recognized by Sahitya Akademi].
Any young writer can send their book to be published under Navodaya can contact:
Languages -Office of Sahitya Akademi
· Hindi, English, Sanskrit, Kashmiri, Dogri,
Nepali, Maithili, Rajasthani, Punjabi and Urdu -New Delhi
· Bengali, Odia, Santali, Assamese, Bodo
and Manipuri -Regional Office at Kolkata
· Tamil -Sub-regional Office at Chennai
· Kannada, Malayalam and Telugu -Regional Office at Bengaluru
· Marathi, Gujarati, Konkani and Sindhi -Regional Office at Mumbai
National Register of Translators
Sahitya Akademi is in the process of compiling a National Register of Translators.
This National Register will have the database of translators, their contact details, language(s) they translate from & to. The source and target languages include all the Indian languages and foreign languages too.
This Register when compiled will be a boon for the writers, translators, publishers and literary institutions.
All the translators who wish to enroll themselves for the National Register of Translators can either download the attached application form, print, fill the form and send it to Secretary, Sahitya Akademi, Rabindra Bhavan, 35 Ferozeshah Road, New Delhi 110 001 or fill the attached form and email to secretary@sahitya-akademi.gov.in
Application Form for National Register of Translators
Book Club
For the literary lovers all over the country and in all the languages, Sahitya Akademi has launched a scheme called Book Club Membership.
Any book lover who is interested in obtaining lifetime Book Club Membership, they can pay Rs. One Thousand [₹ 1000] upfront and enjoy all the benefits.
The benefits of Sahitya Akademi Book Club Membership include
25% discount on any book purchased at any of Sahitya Akademi offices or Sahitya Akademi Bookshops or Sahitya Akademi Book Stalls in any Book Fair or Book Exhibition anywhere in India.
Information on any Akademi programme or Exhibition that is being held near the member’s residence will be emailed to the member.
For more on the Book Club Membership, please write to
sales@sahitya-akademi.gov.in