• Guwahati: Assamese Poet Nilamani Phookan Conferred with Jnanpith Award

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    Guwahati: Assamese Poet Nilamani Phookan Conferred with Jnanpith Award

    Phookan's name was chosen earlier this year for the 56th Jnanpith Award, held today in Guwahati.


    Guwahati: During the maiden Jnanpith Award ceremony held in Assam, renowned Assamese poet Nilamani Phookan was honoured with the prestigious Jnanpith Award 2021 here at Rabindra Bhawan on Monday (April 11).


    Phookan's name was chosen earlier this year for the 56th Jnanpith Award, held today in Guwahati.

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    Notably, the award ceremony has been held for the first time in the northeastern state of Assam, as previous ceremonies have been held in the national capital of Delhi.


    Chief Minister of Assam Himanta Biswa Sarma was the chief guest at the award ceremony. Reportedly, the award was presented by the CM Sarma and member of the Jnanpith committee, who was present at the event on Monday.


    It is worth noting that Nilamani Phookan, 88, is the third person from Assam to receive the prestigious award, which is India's highest literary honour.


    Previously, Assam's Mamoni Raisom Goswami and Birendra Kumar Bhattacharya received the Jnanpith Award.


    It should be noted that 'Kobita' Pookan previously received the 'Sahitya Akademi Award' for the most outstanding books literary in 1981 for his poetry collection.'


    Phookan was also honoured with a Padma Shree in the category of Literature and Education in 1990 and a Sahitya Akademi Fellowship in 2002.


    Apart from 'Kobita,' other notable works of the Assamese poet includes 'Gulapi Jamur Lagna,' 'Surya Henu Nami Ahe Ei Nodiyedi,' 'Selected Poems of Nilmani Phookan,' 'Manas-Pratima,' and 'Phuli Thaka Suryamukhi Phultor Phale.'