New Delhi– President Droupadi Murmu on Friday presented the 58th Jnanpith Award to renowned Sanskrit scholar Jagadguru Rambhadracharya, honoring his exceptional contributions to literature and social service.
The award ceremony, held at Vigyan Bhawan in the capital, also included special recognition for celebrated lyricist and writer Gulzar, who was unable to attend. President Murmu extended her congratulations and wished him good health.
In her address, President Murmu praised Jagadguru Rambhadracharya for exemplifying excellence and for his profound, multifaceted impact on literature and society. She described his service as “extraordinary” and guided by a “divine vision.”
She emphasized that future generations can draw inspiration from his remarkable life and follow the right path in literary endeavors, community development, and nation-building.
“Literature unites and awakens society,” the President said, highlighting the pivotal role of writers and poets throughout Indian history.
“From the social awakening of the 19th century to our freedom struggle in the 20th century, poets and writers have played a crucial role in bringing people together. The song Vande Mataram, composed by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, has been stirring the hearts of Indians for nearly 150 years—and will continue to do so. From Valmiki, Vyas, and Kalidas to timeless figures like Rabindranath Tagore, we feel the pulse of a living India. That pulse is the voice of Indianness,” she said.
President Murmu also commended the Bharatiya Jnanpith Trust for honoring outstanding authors across various Indian languages since the inception of the award in 1965.
She paid tribute to the many women Jnanpith Award laureates—such as Ashapurna Devi, Amrita Pritam, Mahadevi Verma, Qurratulain Hyder, Mahasweta Devi, Indira Goswami, Krishna Sobti, and Pratibha Ray—who have brought deep sensitivity to Indian literature through their lived experiences and reflections on tradition and society.
She urged India’s women and girls to actively engage in literary creation and contribute to a more compassionate social discourse, drawing inspiration from these literary icons. (Source: IANS)
