Tamil Nadu Launches Rs 5 Lakh Literary Award For Seven Indian Languages Amid Sahitya Akademi Row

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Sunday (18 January) unveiled a new national-level literary honour, marking a major cultural announcement at the valedictory session of the Chennai International Book Fair 2026.

The proposed award is positioned as an alternative platform to recognise literary excellence amid concerns over political interference in national cultural institutions.

Addressing the gathering, Stalin referred to the recent uncertainty surrounding the Sahitya Akademi Awards.

“Owing to the interference of the Union Ministry of Culture, the event to announce the Sahitya Akademi Awards 2025 was cancelled a few days ago after the list was finalised. We do not know whether the awards would be announced. Political interference in arts and literature is dangerous,” he said.

He noted that writers and cultural stakeholders had urged the State government to respond constructively to what they viewed as growing political intrusion into creative spaces.

In response, the Tamil Nadu government has decided to institute the Semmozhi Literary Award, which will initially honour outstanding literary works in seven Indian languages — Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Odia, Bengali and Marathi.

“In the first phase, the best literary works in the Indian languages of Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Odia, Bengali, and Marathi will receive the Semmozhi Literary Award every year. The award will carry a cash prize of Rs 5 lakh for each language,” Stalin announced.

He added that the initiative would be expanded and strengthened under a future “Dravida Model 2.0 government”, alongside plans to develop libraries across Tamil Nadu. “Let us light the flame of knowledge and emerge victorious, working in harmony with each other,” he said.

Highlighting the importance of translation and copyright exchange, Stalin cited the global recognition achieved by Kannada writer Banu Mushtaq following the English translation of Heart Lamp.

“The visit of such a writer who shares the Dravidian ideal of social justice has brought glory to this book fair,” he said, thanking her for attending the event.

Emphasising linguistic harmony, Stalin remarked, “Language is not a wall that separates people; rather, it bridges people across the world,” and congratulated School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi and Secretary B Chandra Mohan for the fair’s success.

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