Imphal, May 19 : With the motive to promote literature and encourage the writers in the state the education department has officially announced an annual award of Rs. 1 lakh for the best writer in the state.
The official announcement was made on Monday during a press conference held at the new secretariat block, by the education minister L Jayenta Kumar Singh. The minister revealed that the objective of the award namely the “Manipur State Award for Literature” is to give recognition and encouragement to the writers and promote literature in the state of Manipur, as literature also falls under the parameter of education.
The minister stated that the government on December 19, 2008 took the decision for instituting the award. The announcement of the award was delayed due to the election code of conduct.
While officially announcing BM Sharma as the winner of the Manipur Literature Award, 2008, for his novel Ningthemnubi published in 2006, the minister informed that the award was unanimously recommended by the
advisory board of the Manipur State Award for Literature after discussing the reports of the jury of the Manipur State Award for Literature during a meeting held today at his office chamber.
During the conference the officials of the department stated that the reason behind the recommendation of the novel was that the book reflected the forgotten past in the background of the erstwhile royal palace at Langthabal. The officials held that besides depicting in charming language the novel also vividly indicates human relationships against the backdrop of the royal antiquity of Manipur.
According to the officials of the education department the advisory board comprises of five members who recommend the reports of the jury. The jury submits the reports after about 25 experts select the books. The officials informed that the experts select the 20 books after screening and added that assessing books published during the past five years is the procedure of selection.