57th Jnanpith Award was given to Goan writer Damodar Maujo

Tags: Awards

Goan writer Damodar Maujo has been honoured with the 57th Jnanpith Award, India's highest literary honour.

An Overview of the News

• He is a renowned short story writer, novelist, critic and screenwriter in Konkani language.
• Damodar Maujo is the second Goan to receive the Jnanpith Award after Ravindra Kelekar in 2008.
• He has written 25 books in Konkani and one in English, many of which have been translated into various languages.
• Mauzo’s famous novel ‘Karmelin’ received the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1983.
• The award ceremony took place at the Raj Bhavan near Panaji, the capital of Goa.

Jnanpith Awards:

• It is the oldest and highest Indian literary award presented annually by Bharatiya Jnanpith.
• It recognizes outstanding contributions to literature by Indian authors writing in English as well as in the Indian languages listed in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of India.
• The first award was given on 19 November 1966 to G.K. Shankar Kurup was awarded.
• The award was established in 1961 and is not given posthumously.
• Ashapurna Devi became the first woman recipient in 1976 for her novel "Prothom Protishruti" (The First Promise).

About Goa

It is a state located on the west coast of India, bordering the Arabian Sea.

It is the smallest state of India by area.

Formation (as a state) - 30 May 1987

Capital - Panaji

Official Animal - Gaur

Official Bird - Yellow Throated Bulbul

Official Tree - Terminalia elliptica

Rajya Sabha - 1 seat

Lok Sabha - 2 seats

Governor - PS Sreedharan Pillai

Chief Minister - Pramod Sawant