The 2017 Saraswati Samman was presented to Gujarati poet Sitanshu Yashaschandra on Tuesday by the K.K. Birla Foundation during an event at the National Museum here.
Mr. Yashaschandra won the award for his poetry collection, Vakhar , published in 2009. The poet was also given a citation along with ₹15 lakh. The Saraswati Samman was constituted in 1991 and is given to an author for outstanding literary work published in the last 10 years in any of the languages mentioned in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.
Quality work
Lyricist and film director Gulzar presented the award to the poet and praised him for the quality of his various works. He also read out one of Mr. Yashaschandra’s poems at the event.
Chairperson and Editorial Director of HT Media Limited Shobhana Bhartia, who is also the president of the foundation — named after her late father — said the process of selection was rigorous and involved sifting through thousands of book by a 13-member committee.
Ms. Bhartia said that her father’s ideals would be realised if the award helps create greater interest in Indian languages. “To hear the voice of the voiceless, we need to turn to the languages our people speak,” she said.
