Gujarati writer Sitanshu Yashaschandra to be conferred Saraswati Samman

Gujarati poet, playwright and academic Sitanshu Yashaschandra has been selected for the 2017 Saraswati Samman for his collection of verses titled Vakhar.

The award, now in its 27th year, is presented by the KK Birla Foundation, a literary and cultural organisation that also gives the Vyas Samman for Hindi, and Bihari Puraskar for Hindi and Rajasthani writers of Rajasthan.

Born in 1941 in Gujarat’s Bhuj, Yashaschandra has three poetry collections — Odysseusnu Halesu, Jatayu, and Vakhar — to his credit. He has penned 10 plays and three books on critical analysis. He is also a recipient of the Padma Shri and the Sahitya Akademi Award.

Vakhar, published in 2009, was chosen for the Saraswati Samman, the annual award given to an outstanding literary work in any Indian language mentioned in Schedule VIII of the Constitution and published in 10 years preceding the specified award year.

It is the highest recognition in the field of Indian literature in the country and carries a citation, a plaque and award money of ₹15 lakh.

The awardees are selected by a 13-member Chayan Parishad, or selection committee, which includes scholars and writers under the chairmanship of Subhash C Kashyap, former secretary general of the Lok Sabha secretariat.

Past awardees include poet and writer Harivansh Rai Bachchan for Dashdwar Se Sopan Tak, his autobiography; Oriya poet Ramakanta Rath for Sri Radha; Marathi playright Vijay Tendulkar for his play Kanyadaan; and M Veerappa Moily for his epic in Kannada, Sri Ramayana Mahanveshanam.