Jnanpith for Gulzar, Sanskrit scholar Rambhadracharya

Subject: Polity

Section: Awards

Context:

Celebrated Urdu poet Gulzar and Sanskrit scholar Jagadguru Rambhadracharya have been selected for the 58th Jnanpith Award, considered by many to be the country’s highest literary honour.

About Urdu Poet Gulzar

Sampooran Singh Kalra, popularly known as Gulzar is known for his works in Hindi cinema and is considered one of the finest Urdu poets of this era.
He has earlier received Sahitya Akademi Award for Urdu in 2002, Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2013, Padma Bhushan in 2004, and at least five National Film awards for his works.
He penned the lyrics for the song Jai Ho from the film Slumdog Millionaire that received an Oscar in 2009 and a Grammy in 2010.

About Jagadguru Rambhadracharya

Rambhadracharya, the founder and head of Tulsi Peeth in Chitrakoot, is a renowned Hindu spiritual leader, educator and writer of more than 240 books.
He is a polyglot who speaks 22 languages, is one of the four Jagadguru Ramanandacharyas of the Ramananda sect and has been holding this position since 1982.
A poet and writer in several languages, he received the Padma Vibhushan in 2015.

Jnanpith Award

Jnanpith Award is India’s highest literary honour.
Its name has been taken from Sanskrit words Jnana and Pitha which means knowledge-seat.
It was instituted in 1961 by Bharatiya Jnanpith trust founded by the Sahu Shanti Prasad Jain family that owns the Times of India newspaper group.
It is bestowed upon any Indian citizen who writes in any 22 official languages of India mentioned in VIII Schedule of Constitution of India and English.
Prior to 1982, the award was only given for a single work by a writer. But after 1982, the award is given for lifetime contribution to Indian literature.
The award carries cash prize of 11 lakh rupees, a citation plaque and a bronze replica of Saraswati, the Hindu goddess of knowledge and wisdom.