GUWAHATI, March 27 - The second Mamoni Raisom Goswami National Literature Award, 2016 was presented to eminent Kannada writer Professor SL Bhyrappa. The award instituted by the Asam Sahitya Sabha in the memory of literary icon Dr Indira Goswami was presented to the popular Kannada novelist at Rabindra Bhawan here today.
The award consists of a silk cheleng, trophy, citation, collection of books published by the Asam Sahitya Sabha and a cheque of Rs 3 lakh. The first biennial award was presented to distinguished writer Mahasweta Devi in 2014.
Professor Bhyrappa is one of the most acclaimed Kannada novelists. He has authored 24 novels in a career spanning more than five decades. In his acceptance speech, he expressed concern over the condition of local literature like Kannada and Assamese.
�Parents prefer sending their children to English medium schools these days and they consider the local languages as just a �paper� to score marks. If people, youth particularly, would not speak and read books of their local language, how can we expect such literatures to flourish in the future,� he said.
Further asking the Asam Sahitya Sabha and advocates of local languages to try to reach on a political consensus over the issue of basic education in the vernacular medium, he stated that though the Kannada literary body fought a legal battle over the issue, it requires broader consensus at the policy-making level cutting across party lines.
The award has been sponsored by Numaligarh Refinery Limited and the function was organised in association with the Directorate of Cultural Affairs, Government of Assam.
Dr Dhruba Jyoti Borah, president of the Asam Sahitya Sabha spoke about his most critically acclaimed novel Parva, which is based on the Mahabharata. �He has an innovative way of writing, which can project the contemporary reality, Indian ethos and culture in a modern yet unadulterated way. He is also a vocal supporter of the promotion of Kannada language,� he said.
NRL Managing Director P Padmanabhan, while speaking on the occasion, said that the promotion of art and culture was necessary for any society to flourish. �Selecting eminent writers from different parts of the country for this prestigious award indicates the broad-minded vision of the Sabha. It should also make available the translated works of Bhyrappa in English and Assamese, so that people here can read his works,� he said.
