The Sahitya Akademi is India’s premier institution of letters, with a stated commitment to “promoting Indian literature throughout the world.”The Akademi was established by Jawaharlal Nehru,who was also its first Chairperson, and inaugurated on 12th March, 1954. Every year, the Akademi announces awards for authors of works of outstanding literary merit in Indian languages.Awards are currently given for 24 languages, the most recent additions begin Bodo and Santhali in 2005.Awards in English began in 1960- the first recipient was RK Narayan for his novel’ The Guide’.Over the years, the Akademi has introduced other awards such as the ‘Bhasha Samman’, ‘Yuva Sahityakar’ and ‘Bal Sshitya Puraskar’.The first awards were given in 1955.The award amount was initially ₹ 5000 and has been gradually raised -it has been ₹ 1 lakh since 2009. The Akademi is under the Central Government’s Ministry of Culture, but works as an outstanding contribution to the language and literature to which it belongs”.It may be “a creative or a critical work”,but must not be a work of translation, an anthology, an abridgement, compilation or annotation, or university research paper. A committee of three writers, selected by the Akademi President, out of a panel of seven names recommended by the Language Advisory Board, chooses the awardee in each language. Despite occasional controversies in the Akademi’s functioning, the main award remains, after the Jnanpith, the most prestigious and coveted literary honour in India.The Akademi gets the winning book translated into several Indian languages, which ensures a wide readership, and organises programmes for the winners in several parts of the country.As it enhances the prestige of the winner, the award also cements the credibility of the Akademi- the honour is, in effect, recognition for an outstanding original work that already has its readers. On the basis of your understanding of the above passage, answer each of the questions given below by choosing the most appropriate option: 1.The sole motive of the Sahitya Akademi is to promote Indian _____ throughout the world. a)books b)literature c)authors d)culture 2.The Akademi was established by __________ a) the Ministry of Culture b)the Language Advisory board c) Jawaharlal Nehru d) RK Narayan 3.The Akademi presents awards to authors works of outstanding literary merit in ________ languages. a)Bodo and Santhali b)Hindi and eight c)14 Indian d)24 Indian 4._______ received the first award in _______ English for the novel”The Guide”. a) RK Narayan, English b)RK Narayan, Hindi c)Jawaharlal Nehru, English d) None of the above 5.The Akademi has introduced new awards over the years such as the _________ a) Bal Sahitya Puraskar b) Language Advisory Award c)Janapith Award d)Both (a)&(c) 6. The eligibility criterion to get the award is, “the outstanding contribution to the________and literature which it belongs.” a) country b)people c) la Vnguage d)art 7.What is the sole motive of the Sahitya Akademi? a)to promote English language b)to translate the award winning book in many Indian language c)to promote Indian literature throughout the world d)to promote many Indian language 8.How does the Akademi help in ensuring wide readership of award winning book? a)By giving free copies b)by translating in several Indian languages c)by organising programmes for the winner in many parts of the country d)Both (b) &(c) 9.In how many languages does Sahitya Akademi give the awards? a)twenty six languages b)twenty four languages c)thirty five languages d)only two 10.Which of the following characteristics make a book eligible for the award? I. It should contribute to literature II. It should contain an anthology III.It should be a compilation of annotations IV. It should be translated into many languages a) II a III b) I and IV c) Only I d) Only II
Answers
1. The sole motive of the Sahitya Akademi is to promote Indian b) literature throughout the world.
2. The Akademi was established by c) Jawaharlal Nehru.
3. The Akademi presents awards to authors works of outstanding literary merit in d) 24 Indian languages.
4. a) R K Narayan received the first award in English for the novel "The Guide".
5. The Akademi has introduced new awards over the years such as the a) Bal Sahitya Puraskar.
6. The eligibility criterion to get the award is, “the outstanding contribution to the c) language and literature which it belongs.”
7. What is the sole motive of the Sahitya Akademi?
Ans. c) to promote Indian literature throughout the world.
8. How does the Akademi help in ensuring wide readership of award winning book?
Ans. d) Both (b) & (c)
- b) by translating in several Indian languages
- c) by organising programmes for the winner in many parts of the country
9. In how many languages does Sahitya Akademi give the awards?
Ans. b) twenty four languages
10. Which of the following characteristics make a book eligible for the award?
- I. It should contribute to literature
- II. It should contain an anthology
- III.It should be a compilation of annotations
- IV. It should be translated into many languages
Ans. c) Only I
Answer:
Explanation:
1. The sole motive of the Sahitya Akademi is to promote Indian b) literature throughout the world.
2. The Akademi was established by c) Jawaharlal Nehru.
3. The Akademi presents awards to authors works of outstanding literary merit in d) 24 Indian languages.
4. a) R K Narayan received the first award in English for the novel "The Guide".
5. The Akademi has introduced new awards over the years such as the a) Bal Sahitya Puraskar.
6. The eligibility criterion to get the award is, “the outstanding contribution to the c) language and literature which it belongs.”
7. What is the sole motive of the Sahitya Akademi?
Ans. c) to promote Indian literature throughout the world.
8. How does the Akademi help in ensuring wide readership of award winning book?
Ans. d) Both (b) & (c)
b) by translating in several Indian languages
c) by organising programmes for the winner in many parts of the country
9. In how many languages does Sahitya Akademi give the awards?
Ans. b) twenty four languages
10. Which of the following characteristics make a book eligible for the award?
I. It should contribute to literature
II. It should contain an anthology
III.It should be a compilation of annotations
IV. It should be translated into many languages
Ans. c) Only I