Scholars of Sanskrit, Arabic, Persian, and other languages express resentment as Central Government ceases Awards Scheme, Ignoring a Tradition of Over 60 Years.
Team Clarion
NEW DELHI — In a move that has deeply disappointed scholars and writers across India, the central government has halted the prestigious Presidential Award of Honour for scholars in Sanskrit, Arabic, Persian, and several other languages. Data obtained through the Right to Information (RTI) Act by The Telegraph reveals that no awards have been presented since 2019, leaving experts and scholars resentful and concerned about the future of these ancient languages.
The Presidential Award of Honour has a long history, dating back to 1958, when it was first established to recognise outstanding contributions in the fields of Sanskrit, Arabic, and Persian. Over the years, the scheme was expanded to include Pali/Prakrit in 1996, followed by Classical Kannada, Classical Telugu, Classical Malayalam, and Classical Odia in 2016. Despite its longstanding legacy, however, the Education Ministry’s failure to select awardees for the past five years has raised serious questions about the government’s commitment to preserving India’s linguistic diversity.
The award typically includes a stipend of ₹5 lakh, a shawl, and a lifetime annual stipend of ₹50,000 for recipients. For Sanskrit scholars, the monetary reward is ₹15,000, while the awards for Arabic, Persian, Classical Telugu, Classical Kannada, Classical Malayalam, and Classical Odia are ₹3,000 each. Despite the continued existence of the scheme, no scholar has received the prestigious award since 2019.
In an exclusive statement, Bhagwat Charan Shukla, a respected professor of Vyakaran (Grammar) at Banaras Hindu University (BHU), expressed his dismay: “Not giving the award for five years is as good as closing it altogether. The Presidential Award is a matter of prestige for any scholar. It not only honours individuals but also encourages writers and artists in their craft. If the awards are not being given, perhaps it’s better to discontinue the scheme rather than leaving it in limbo.”
The Education Ministry, through an official, confirmed that a committee to select the awardees was established in 2021, but no meetings have taken place in the last three years. Scholars are now questioning whether the Ministry intends to resume the award selection process at all, given the five-year hiatus.
The situation is even more critical considering that the Central Hindi Directorate (CHD), which has been awarding the Hinditar Bhasi Hindi Lekhk Puraskar and the Shiska Puraskar for over 60 years, has also stopped its awards. The Hinditar Bhasi Hindi Lekhk Puraskar, presented to non-Hindi speakers from non-Hindi states, recognises contributions in creative writing, non-fiction, and translation. The Shiska Puraskar, established over 30 years ago, is given for works related to science, social science, and philosophy.
An RTI response has revealed that the last awards in these categories were given in 2018, and following a directive from the Education Ministry in May 2023, the awards have been suspended indefinitely. The sudden suspension of these awards has been viewed as a setback for writers who have dedicated their careers to promoting Hindi in non-Hindi speaking states.
In response to the growing frustration, an email has been sent to Higher Education Secretary Sanjay Kumar urging him to take prompt action in reviving the awards and restoring the government’s recognition of scholars’ contributions to India’s linguistic heritage.
The cessation of these awards, especially those that honour scholars of traditional languages, has raised concerns about the government’s priorities in fostering the preservation of ancient languages. Experts argue that such recognition not only highlights the significance of these languages but also encourages new generations to engage with their cultural heritage.
Prof Shukla’s sentiments were echoed by many in the academic community, who feel that the government’s failure to provide awards could demoralise scholars and writers. “We have dedicated our lives to these languages, and this lack of recognition is a blow to the field,” said one senior academic from the University of Delhi. “These awards are essential in encouraging research, writing, and preservation efforts. Without them, we risk losing a valuable part of our cultural identity.”
As the controversy continues to unfold, it remains unclear whether the government will take concrete steps to address the concerns raised by scholars. What is certain, however, is that the silence surrounding these prestigious awards has ignited a broader debate about the state of linguistic and cultural preservation in India. Scholars are now calling for an urgent reassessment of the government’s policies and for the resumption of the awards that have, for decades, symbolised the nation’s appreciation of its linguistic diversity.
