2023 Saraswati Samman for Prabha Verma

The K K Birla Foundation has selected noted poet and litterateur Prabha Varma for the 33rd  Saraswati Samman for 2023 for his novel Roudra Sathwikam . According to the Birla Foundation, the novel  “ Roudra Sathwikam, written in poetic verse in the Malayalam language, probes the conflict between power and politics, individual and state and art and power in a unique way.” The novel Roudra Sathwikam, published in 2022” transcends the concept of time and space as it addresses the predicament of dharma and adharma in a creatively philosophical way.” said the Birla Foundation.

The Saraswati Samman awardee was chosen by a selection committee headed by former Supreme Court judge Justice Arjan Kumar Sikri.

About Prabha Varma

Prabha Verma was born in Thiruvalla, Kerala, in 1959. He writes in both English and Malayalam. He has published over 30 books, including a dozen collections of poems, three novels in verse, eight books on the contemporary socio-political milieu and literature and seven collections of essays in criticism. 

Some of the notable works of Prabha Verma are “Souparnika, Arkkapoornima, Shyama Madhavam, Chandana Nazhi, Aardram, and Kanal Chilambu. Varma has received the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award, the Kendra Sahitya Akademi Award, and the Vayalar Award. 

He has also received the State and Filmfare award for best film lyrics. Prabha Varma is the media advisor to the Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

Saraswati Samman 

• The  Saraswati Samman is an annual prize. It is given to an outstanding literary work published in the last 10 years. It is given to a work written in any Indian language by an Indian citizen.
• The winner is given a cash prize of Rs 15 lakhs, a citation and a plaque.
• Harivansh Rai Bachchan received the first Saraswati Samman in 1991 for his four-volume autobiography, Kya Bhooloon Kya Yaad Karoon, Need Ka Nirman Phir, Basere Se Door, and Dashdwar se Sopan Tak.
• The  32nd awardee was Sivasankari for her work Surya Vamsam. It was written in Tamil language. 

K K Birla Foundation  Prize

K.K. Birlarla Foundation was set up by noted industrialist Krishna Kumar Birla in 1991. It aims to promote Indian literature. An outstanding literary work of an Indian, published in the last 10 years, has been selected for the awards given by the Foundation. Important awards given by K.K.Birla Foundations are as follows :

Bihari Puraskar 

• The Bihari Puraskar was also started in 1991 by the  K Birla Foundation.  The annual award is given for an outstanding work published by a Rajasthani author in Hindi or Rajasthani language.
• It carries a cash prize of Rs2.5 lakh, a plaque and a citation.
• Famous poet Jaisingh Neeraj was awarded the first  Bihari Puraskar in 1991 for his poetry compilation 'Dhani Ka Aadmi'.
• The 32nd  Bihari Puraskar 2022  was awarded to Dr Madhav Hada for his book ‘Pachrang Chola Pahar Sakhi Ri’.

Vyas Samman 

• It is given for outstanding literary work in Hindi authored by an Indian citizen and published in the previous 10 years..

•  It carries a cash prize of ₹ 4 lakh.

• Ram Vilas Sharma was the first person to get the award for his work “ Bharat ke Pracheen bhasha parivar aur Hindi.”
• The 32nd Vyas Samman  2022 was awarded to Gyan Chaturvedi for his novel Pagalkhana.