Context:
The Jnanpith selection committee announced that the 58th Jnanpith Award will be given to two writers, Sanskrit scholar Jagadguru Rambhadracharya and Urdu poet and lyricist Gulzar, for 2023.
Relevance:
GS I: History
Dimensions of the Article:
- Jnanpith Award: Celebrating Literary Excellence
- Contributions of Gulzar and Jagadguru Rambhadracharya
Jnanpith Award: Celebrating Literary Excellence
Establishment:
- Instituted in 1961, the Jnanpith Award is India’s oldest and highest literary honor.
Eligibility:
- Considers outstanding contributions to literature in both English and other Indian languages.
- Restricted to Indian citizens, and not conferred posthumously.
Presented by Bharatiya Jnanpith:
- Established in 1944 by Sahu Shanti Prasad Jain and Rama Jain.
- A distinguished literary and research organization headquartered in New Delhi, actively promoting literature and culture.
Cash Prize and Recognition:
- Awardees receive a cash prize of Rs 11 lakh, a statue of Vagdevi, and a citation, recognizing their significant literary contributions.
Contributions of Gulzar and Jagadguru Rambhadracharya
Gulzar:
- Born on August 18, 1934, in Dina, Jhelum district of undivided India.
- Respected figure in cinema and literature, considered one of the finest Urdu poets.
- Notable Awards: Sahitya Akademi Award (2002), Dadasaheb Phalke Award (2013), Padma Bhushan (2004), National Film Awards.
- Invented the ‘Triveni’ genre in poetry.
- Iconic Works: “Jai Ho” for “Slumdog Millionaire,” winning an Oscar (2009) and Grammy Award (2010).
Jagadguru Rambhadracharya:
- Born in 1950 in Jaunpur, Uttar Pradesh; speaks 22 languages.
- Polyglot, Hindu spiritual leader, poet, and writer.
- Authored over 240 books in languages like Sanskrit, Hindi, Awadhi, and Maithili.
- Awarded Padma Vibhushan in 2015.
- Founder of Tulsi Peeth in Chitrakoot, Madhya Pradesh, a leading publisher of Hindu religious literature.
- Head of Tulsi Peeth and one of the four Jagadguru Ramanandacharyas since 1982.
- Leader of the Ramanandi Sampradaya, emphasizing worship of Rama, Vishnu, and other incarnations.
-Source: The Hindu
