Sahitya Akademi Award to Assamese writer Apurba Kumar Saikia for short stories

GUWAHATI: Apurba Kumar Saikia, a noted short story writer of Assam, was today awarded with Sahitya Akademi Award 2020 for short stories collection 'Bengsata'.

The award carries a casket containing an engraved copper plaque, a shawl, and an amount of Rs. 1 lakh. The presentation ceremony will be held on a later date.

Besides Saikia, 19 other writers, poets, etc have also been awarded the award coveted honour in 20 Indian languages.

Arundhathi Subramaniam (English) was awarded for her English poetry 'When God is a Traveller' and Anamika won for her Hindi poetry compilation 'Tokri Mein Digant Their Gatha: 2014'.

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The late Dharanidhar Owari won the award posthumously for 'Gwtheney Lamayao Gwdan Agan' (Bodo) and late Hirday Koul Bharti for 'Tilasm e-Khanabadosh' (Kashmiri) in the short stories category.

The books were selected on the basis of recommendations made by a jury of three members in the concerned languages in accordance with the procedure laid down for the purpose.

The executive board declared the awards on the basis of unanimous selections made by the jurors or selection made on the basis of the majority vote.