TNI Bureau: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin announced the launch of a new national-level literary award to honour outstanding works in seven Indian languages.
Speaking at the Chennai International Book Fair (CIBF), Stalin said the Tamil Nadu government will institute the annual ‘Semmozhi Literary Award’ for exceptional literary contributions in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Odia, Bengali and Marathi. Each award will carry a cash prize of ₹5 lakh.
To ensure transparency and uphold literary standards, separate selection committees comprising eminent writers and award-winning authors will be formed for each language, he said.
The announcement comes after the Sahitya Akademi Awards 2025 were cancelled following intervention by the Union Ministry of Culture. Stalin cautioned that political interference in literary and cultural awards is harmful and undermines creative freedom.
Praising the Chennai International Book Fair, the Chief Minister said literary rights exchanges should be seen not just as commercial activity but as a cultural bridge between languages. He also stressed the need to take Tamil literature — from Sangam classics to contemporary works — to a global audience, adding that Tamil Nadu is not only an investment destination but also a hub for intellectual and cultural exchange.
