Sahitya Akademi Cancels Literary Awards Announcement Amid Ministry Directive
Cancellation of Awards Announcement
On Thursday, the Sahitya Akademi had to cancel a press conference intended to announce its annual literary awards due to a directive from the Union Ministry of Culture, as reported by a news source.
This esteemed literary organization, recognized as the national academy of letters in India, awards books in 24 different languages each year.
The press conference was set for 3 PM in Delhi, following a meeting of the Akademi's executive board, but was abruptly called off just moments before it was scheduled to start, halting the awards process.
According to a note from the culture ministry sent prior to the event, the cancellation was due to an ongoing review of the awards process, as reported by another news outlet.
The note stated: “This is to invite your attention to the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the Akademies and the ministry for the year 2025-’26, wherein it has been stipulated that the exercise of restructuring of awards is required to be undertaken in consultation with the ministry.”
Four autonomous organizations, including the Sahitya Akademi, fall under the purview of the culture ministry. The note was addressed to all these bodies.
It further requested that the ministry be informed of any measures taken regarding the restructuring.
The ministry emphasized that no awards could be declared until the restructuring process received its approval, according to the report.
An unnamed official from the culture ministry indicated that the note was necessary because the press conference was organized without the ministry's awareness and without an approved selection process for the awardees.
Sources revealed that the MoUs for restructuring were signed as part of a broader initiative led by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs.
One member of the Akademi's executive board mentioned that a suggestion from a ministry representative to review the awardees' names had been turned down.
When the names of the winners were presented, the ministry official stated they would review them before making an announcement, according to the member's comments.
The other board members contended that the ministry should not be involved in reviewing the names, asserting that once the board approved them, the secretary would announce the winners. This was accepted by the official, and the board had already cleared the names.
KP Ramanunni, a writer and board member, noted that this was the first instance of such a cancellation in the Akademi's history, calling the postponement of the awards process “unfortunate.”
MA Baby, the general secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), expressed strong disapproval, stating it was “extremely deplorable” that the Sahitya Akademi sought the Union government's approval for its awards.
In a social media post, Baby remarked, “This is the first time ever in its history that an autonomous body such as the Akademi is bowing down to the ruling powers and seeking their approval.”
He criticized the Akademi for functioning without a secretary and for appearing to seek government permission, which he felt betrayed the vision of its founders.
Since the previous member secretary's retirement in October, an official from the culture ministry has been acting as the member secretary of the Akademi, as reported.
Baby condemned the influence of the ruling powers on cultural institutions, urging all who value literature to unite against this infringement on freedom of expression.
Extremely deplorable that the Sahitya Akademi has sent the recommendations for its awards to the Union Government. This is the first time ever in its history that an autonomous body such as the Akademi is bowing down to the ruling powers and seeking their approval. It is a shame…
— M A Baby (@MABABYCPIM) December 18, 2025