New award for Tamil writers, Rs 1 crore prize announced by writer Jayamohan
Tamil Nadu: Writer Jayamohan has announced that the Living Tamil Award for World Literature will be awarded annually to outstanding Tamil literature and writers, along with a prize of ₹1 crore.
The ceremony to introduce the Living Tamil Award for World Literature took place on Wednesday at a star hotel in New Delhi. Speaking at the ceremony, Jayamohan said:
To uphold our literary values on the national and global stage, we, the Living Tamil Foundation, are initiating the Living Tamil Award for World Literature. Through this award, we will showcase a literary vision that emphasizes aesthetics. We intend to award it to writers at both the international and national levels.
Through this award, we want to set certain criteria for evaluating literature. We live in an environment where it is believed that the best literature expresses simple political positions. Those who lack an understanding of literature institutionalize this viewpoint through various organizations, thus establishing their power in the literary field. As writers and readers, we want to raise our voice against this trend. We are launching this award with the support of Tamil literary readers from approximately six countries. The jury for this award will consist of Tamil readers and writers.
The purpose of this award is to recognize, highlight, and honor leading creative writers in India and around the world. This is not just an award given by an organization; it is rooted in a centuries-old intellectual movement.
Tamil has a rich modern literary tradition, carried forward by figures like Pudumaipithan, K.N. Subramaniam, Sundar Ramasamy, Venkat Saminathan, and M. Vedhasakayakumar. This award is shaped by that intellectual environment. Furthermore, Jeyamohan said that a “Living Tamil Literary Festival” will be held in New York City, USA on April 3 and 4.
