Wire flash
EntertainmentTamil poet and lyricist R. Vairamuthu conferred with 60th Jnanpith Award
Editorial responsibility
- No named human review is recorded for this page.
- Source reporting is collected, normalized, translated or condensed automatically when needed.
- Automatically published source-backed update
Noted Tamil poet and lyricist R. Vairamuthu was conferred the 60th Jnanpith Award for 2025 on July 13, 2026, in New Delhi. He is the third Tamil literary figure to receive the honor, following Akilan and Jayakanthan, after a 24-year gap. The award was presented by Karan Singh and includes a cash prize of Rs 11 lakh, a bronze statue of Goddess Saraswati, and a citation. Vairamuthu, who won the Sahitya Akademi Award in 2003, dedicated the honor to the Tamil language and Indian literature. The ceremony was attended by literary figures including Bharatiya Jnanpith trustees and selection committee members. The Jnanpith Award, instituted in 1961, recognizes outstanding lifetime contributions to literature in languages listed in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution.
Source report
He is the third Tamil literary figure to receive the award, after a gap of 24 years
Updated - July 29, 2026 10:17 am IST - New Delhi
Noted Tamil poet and lyricist R. Vairamuthu was on Monday conferred the 60th Jnanpith Award for the year 2025.
He is the third Tamil literary figure to receive the award, after a gap of 24 years. Earlier recipients include the late writers Akilan and Jayakanthan. Mr. Vairamuthu won the Sahitya Akademi Award in 2003 for Kallikattu Ithikasam.
The award was presented by politician and scholar Karan Singh at a ceremony in the National Capital in the presence of literary personalities from across the country. As part of the honour, Mr. Vairamuthu received:
- A cash prize of Rs 11 lakh
- A bronze statue of Vagdevi (Goddess Saraswati)
- A citation
Delivering the keynote address, Mr. Singh stressed the continuing relevance of literature in the age of science and technology and urged younger generations to forge a deeper connection with Indian languages and literary traditions.
Mr. Vairamuthu, on his part, dedicated the honour to the Tamil language and the wider fraternity of Indian literature. He described literature as a source of hope, compassion and moral strength, and said the recognition would encourage him to continue his creative pursuits.
Established in 1944, Bharatiya Jnanpith is dedicated to the promotion of Indian languages, literature and cultural heritage. Instituted in 1961, the Jnanpith Award is conferred for outstanding lifetime contribution to literature in any of the languages listed in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution. According to Bharatiya Jnanpith, 66 distinguished authors have been honoured with the award over the past six decades.
Among those present at the ceremony were:
- Bharatiya Jnanpith Trustee Mudit Jain
- Managing Trustee Sahu Akhilesh Jain
- Jnanpith Award Selection Committee Chairperson Pratibha Ray
- Bharatiya Jnanpith General Manager R.N. Tewari
Writers, academics and literature enthusiasts also attended the event.
Published - July 13, 2026 09:26 pm IST
Source
The Hindu: Latest News today from India and the World, Breaking news, Top Headlines and Trending News Videos.Regional
Part of this Story
Tamil poet and lyricist R. Vairamuthu conferred with 60th Jnanpith award