‘Sudirsukt’ Effect: Govt to centralise all State Literary Awards

The government has now decided to centralise all the literary awards instituted by government institutions in different languages. Basicallly to avoid duplication.

Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar has appointed a high level committee of three officials to decide on the modalities.

It all started with a controversy over Vishnu Wagh’s book Sudirsukt as one judge of  Goa Konkani Academy opposed giving award to this book.

The result was leaked out even before the sealed envelopes were opened and all hell broke out. On social media as well as symposiums and public recitals of Wagh’s poems. Some people also approached the Chief Minister.

He asked for a report, which pointed out various flaws in the process of selecting the books for almost 8 different literary awards of two years – 2015 and 2016.

Besides this, 8 more awards to the individuals and institutions for their life-time contribution. CM scrapped all the awards and instituted this committee. 

The order of this committee is expected this week. It would be headed by Director of Higher Education Prasad Lolayekar.

Director of Art and Culture Gurudas Pilarnkar and Director of Official Language Dr Prakash Vazrikar would be  the members.

But the decision is taken on the basis of a proposal mooted by the Directorate of Official Language two years ago.

To centralise all the awards, in order to avoid duplication. And the duplication pointed out is like this:

Literary awards for the best Konkani books in different categories are given by Goa Konkani Academy while the newly formed Goa Marathi Academy also has plans to give similar awards for Marathi books.

In addition, Kala Academy was also giving similar awards in Konkani and Marathi.

AWARDS FOR BOOKS

Goa Konkani Academy                  Konkani

Goa Marathi Academy                  Marathi
Kala Academy                                  Konkani/Marathi

And there are four different government organisations which give awards for life-time contribution in the field of literature and language.

Directorate of Art & Culture gives Cultural Awards for the contribution in the field of Konkani and Marathi literature, Konkani Academy gives Bhasha Seva Puraskar in Konkani, Directorate of Official Language gives Bhasha Puraskar in Konkani, Marathi and Sanskrit. And Kala Academy’s prestigious Gomant Sharada Puraskar.

Besides these, sources told Goa365 that there is also a proposal of Institute Menezes Braganza pending before the government to give life-time award in literary fields.

The committee headed by Prasad Lolayekar would decide how to streamline these awards and avoid duplication in the State Awards.