Chennai, 18 January (H.S.): Chief Minister MK Stalin has announced the launch of a new national-level literary honour, the Semmozhi National Literary Award, while expressing strong concerns over political interference in the Sahitya Akademi.

Addressing the closing ceremony of the Chennai International Book Fair 2026 at Kalaivanar Arangam on Sunday, the Chief Minister highlighted that recent reports regarding the cancellation of the 2025 Sahitya Akademi Awards due to intervention by the Union Ministry of Culture were deeply troubling. He emphasized that political meddling in artistic awards poses a significant danger to creative independence and freedom of thought.

The newly instituted Semmozhi National Literary Award will be presented annually to outstanding literary works across several Indian languages. In its initial phase, the award will cover Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Odia, Bengali, and Marathi. Each recipient will be honored with a cash prize of 500000 rupees.

To maintain transparency and credibility, the Chief Minister stated that independent juries consisting of eminent writers and award-winning authors would be formed for each language to oversee the selection process. He asserted that the Tamil Nadu government would proudly serve as a patron for Indian literature.

Chief Minister MK Stalin further noted that literature acts as a bridge connecting different cultures and languages. He praised the success of the Chennai International Book Fair, which saw participation from publishers representing over 100 countries, reinforcing the city's position as a global hub for knowledge and publishing.

The state government remains committed to promoting the translation of Tamil classics and modern works into various global languages. By establishing this national award, Tamil Nadu aims to protect the integrity of literary recognition and foster a deeper intellectual exchange across the country.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Dr. R. B. Chaudhary