Marathi novelist, poet, critic and short story writer Sharankumar Limbale was selected for the 2020 Saraswati Samman, a prestigious literary recognition conferred annually by the KK Birla Foundation. The 30th edition of the prize, the highest recognition in the field of Indian literature in the country, was given to Limbale for his 2018 Marathi novel, Sanatan. Apart from the citation, the award carries fifteen lakh rupees and a plaque.
Sanatan is an important social and historical document of the Dalit struggle, said the KK Birla Foundation, a literary and cultural organisation. Born on June 1, 1956 in Maharashtra’s Solapur district, was a professor and director. Limbale has authored 40 books of novel, poetry, stories and criticism. He has also written critical essays and papers for many seminars. Instituted in 1991, the Saraswati Samman is given every year to an outstanding literary work written in any Indian language mentioned in Schedule VIII to the Constitution by an Indian citizen published during the 10 years preceding the specified year.
Hitherto writers who have received Saraswati Award include Harivansh Rai Bachchan (1991), Ramakant Rath (1992), Prof. K. Ayyapp Panikkar (2005), Govind Mishra (2013), Dr. M. Veerappa Moily (2014), among others.
