November 10, 2023: Aaj Tak has announced its commitment to honour Indian writers in 8 categories to promote Indian language and literature. These awards will be given during the upcoming Sahitya Aaj Tak event this year.
The Aaj Tak Sahitya Jagriti Samman will be a lifetime achievement award, carrying a cash prize of ₹11 lakh.
The Aaj Tak Sahitya Jagriti Samman will be given to any distinguished writer in any Indian language in recognition of their lifelong literary contribution and service to the world of literature.
In addition, the Aaj Tak Sahitya Jagriti Sarvashreshtha Rachna Samman will also be given in 4 categories, each carrying a cash prize of ₹1 lakh.
The Aaj Tak Sahitya Jagriti Sarvashreshtha Rachna Samman will be presented for a book published in the last three years. Their categories will be:
- Aaj Tak Sahitya Jagriti Sarvashreshtha Rachna Samman (Author), offering a cash prize of ₹1 lakh
- Aaj Tak Sahitya Jagriti Sarvashreshtha Rachna Samman (Authoress), Cash prize ₹1 lakh
- Aaj Tak Sahitya Jagriti Bhartiya Bhasha Samman, Cash prize ₹1 lakh
- In addition to these, the Aaj Tak Sahitya Jagriti Lokpriya Lekhak Samman will be presented in the popular category, carrying a cash prize of ₹1 lakh.
This award will be given for any literary masterpiece published in any Indian language over the last three years.
India Today Group is the first media group in the country to give an award in this category.
Three awards have also been announced under the Aaj Tak Sahitya Jagriti Samman to promote young talents. These awards will be conferred in these categories under the name of Aaj Tak Sahitya Jagriti Ubharti Pratibha Samman:
- Aaj Tak Sahitya Jagriti Yuva Lekhak Samman, with a cash prize of ₹50,000
- Aaj Tak Sahitya Jagriti Yuva Lekhika Samman, carrying a cash prize of ₹50,000
- Aaj Tak Sahitya Jagriti Bhashai Pratibha Samman, offering a cash prize of ₹50,000
A 6-member jury has been constituted under the chairmanship of Aaj Tak’s News Director Supriya Prasad to select the winners of the Aaj Tak Sahitya Jagriti Samman.
This award was announced last year during the biggest literary extravaganza ‘Sahitya Aaj Tak’.
According to Kalli Purie, Vice Chairperson of India Today Group, “This is another initiative of India Today Group to highlight our commitment to promoting Indian languages following the successful organisation of the literary extravaganza ‘Sahitya Aaj Tak’. Through the ‘Aaj Tak Sahitya Jagriti Samman’, we aim to honour established writers and encourage budding writers to ensure that Indian literature continues to scale new heights.”
These awards will be presented to this year’s winners during the literary extravaganza ‘Sahitya Aaj Tak’ to be held at the National Stadium in New Delhi from November 24 to 26.
