Laxman Gaikwad

Laxman Gaikwad

A famous Marathi novelist known for his best work The Branded, a translation of his autobiographical novel Uchalaya (also known as Ucalaya). This novel gave him international recognition. Other notable novels written by him include Dubang, Chini Mathachi Divas, Samaj Sahitya Ani Swathantra, Wadar Vedna, Vakila Pardhi, Utav and A Swathantra Konasat. He won several awards including the Sahitya Akademi award (1988), Sahitya Ratna Anna Bahu Sathe Puraskar (2000), SAARC Literary Award (2001), Gunther Sontheimer Memorial Award (2005), and  Maharastra Gourav Puraskar ( 2009).

K Satchidanandan

K Satchidanandan

A poet of international repute, writing in Malayalam. He has a doctorate in post-structuralist poetics and was a professor of English at Christ College, University of Calicut in Kerala; editor of Indian Literature, the journal of the Sahitya Akademi; and chief executive of the Akademi. He edits the SAARC journal ‘Beyond Borders in English’, and the South Asian Library of Literature. He has 21 collections of poetry in Malayalam, besides 16 collections of world poetry in translation, 23 collection of critical essays and interviews, and four collection of essays in English. He has won several awards including Bharatiya Bhasha Parishad award, Kerala Sahitya Akademi awards (4 times), Odakkuzhal award, Vayalar award, as well as many reputed national fellowships. He won the Kendra Sahitya Akademi award in 2012. He has represented India in several international events like the international literary festivals in Serajavo, Berlin, Montreal, Beijing, Moscow, Ivry-sur Seine, Jaipur, Delhi, Montreal, and book festivals in Lahore, Abu Dhabi, Frankfurt, Leipzeg, London, Paris, and Moscow. Satchidanandan has been honoured with Knighthood of the order of Merit by the government of Italy, the Dante Medal by the Dante Institute, and India-Poland Friendship medal by the government of Poland.