11 Feb :Noted Assamese writer Lakshmi Nandan Bora will be honoured with the prestigious Saraswati Samman this year for his novel ‘Kayakalpa’.The award, instituted by the K K Birla Foundation in 1991, is given every year for an outstanding literary work in any Indian language mentioned in the schedule VIII of the Constitution and published during the past 10 years.
The award carries a cash prize of Rs five lakh.Bora, who won the Sahitya Akademi award for his 1986 novel ‘Patal Bhairavi’, is considered as one of the foremost men of letters in Assam today.
‘Kayakalpa’ has been chosen for the award after consideration of works published in 22 Indian languages by a selection committee headed by former Chief Justice of India G B Patnaik, the K K Birla Foundation said in a statement on Wednesday.
Among the past 17 recipients of the honour are Harivansh Rai Bachchan, Vijay Tendulkar, Mahesh Elkunchwar and Sunil Gangopadhyay.