Odisha News Times News Of Odisha For Odisha
New Delhi, 16 October 2017: Eminent writer Namita Gokhale has been awarded the first-ever Centenary National Award for Literature, which was conferred by one of the most prestigious literary bodies in India – the AsamSahityaSabha – a nonprofit, non-governmental organization which was established in 1917 and has about one thousand branches in and outside the state.
The award was conferred in a special function that was organised in Guwahati. It was presented to Ms. Gokhale by Dr. Dhruba Jyoti Borah, President of the AsamSahityaSabha.
Delighted to receive the honor, Namita Gokhale said, “It is a unique honour to have received the first Centenary National Literature Award from the Asam Sahitya Sabha . The soul of Indian literature resides in our Indian languages, and so this recognition from such a renowned organization gains even deeper meaning and value for me.”
Dr. Dhruba Jyoti Borah, President of the AsamSahityaSabha, said ‘the Sabha is extremely delighted to present the National Centenary Literary Award for the first time to Namita Gokhale, one of our most sensitive and finest writers and one who through her untiring efforts is knitting the country together across languages through literature.”
As part of its centenary celebrations, the Sabha instituted a national award, titled the Centenary National Award for Literature. The Sabha decided to present the first award to Namita Gokhale for her outstanding literary contributions as well as her service to the nation in supporting and showcasing literary talents and creating a literary environment in the country. This is also the first time that the Sabha presented the award to an English-language author.
A prominent figure in the field of literature, NamitaGokhale is a writer, publisher, and festival director. She is the author of sixteen works of fiction and non-fiction. Gokhale has a passionate commitment to showcasing Indian writing and is a founder and co-director of the ZEE Jaipur Literature Festival and Mountain Echoes, the Bhutan Literature Festival. She is also the director of Yatra Books, a publishing house specialised in translation. She has curated Kitaabnama, India’s only multi-lingual book show for the national channel. Her works include the acclaimed debut novel, Paro: Dreams of Passion,published in 1984. Her memorable works also include A Himalayan Love Story, The Book of Shadows and the recent ‘Things to Leave Behind’ which has been described as her most ambitious novel yet.
