Pranab Mukherjee confers the 51st Jnanpith Award on Dr. Raghuveer Chaudhari

Dr. Raghuveer Chaudhari a renowned Gujarati writer was conferred the 51st Jnanpith Award yesterday by the President of India, Pranab Mukherjee at a function held at Parliament Library Building, New Delhi.

President praises Dr. Raghuveer Chaudhari:

Pranab Mukherjee paid glorious tribute to Dr. Chaudhari and called him an eminent scholar and a Gandhian in spirit and behavior. President speaking on the occasion told that Dr. Chaudhari represents the fluid brilliance that characterises India's pluralistic literary genius.

Further showering praise on the scholar Mr. Mukherjee said that, "It is indeed an example of his brilliant fluidity that an author, who strove to master Hindi academically, expressed himself in Gujarati in his literary pursuit".

Mr. Mukherjee while throwing further light on Dr. Chaudhari's work said that, "Dr. Chaudhari has been an ardent writer of Hindi columns as well, and his literary work has explored varied genre of poetry, prose, novels, and fictions as also commentary on contemporary issues".

President Mukherjee also further added that he was sure that as a teacher also, Dr. Chaudhari would have inspired his students to nurture the creative potentiality in them. As a writer, who has explored existentialism in his works, analysed the functional aspect of human life and profoundly expressed his thoughts in his poetry through images and symbols, Dr. Chaudhari has rightfully joined the stellar constellation of his predecessor awardees.

Mr. Mukherjee called Dr. Chaudhari a creator and added that, "Mortal beings do not remain but their creations remain for a long time and therein lies the success of a master creator. Dr. Chaudhari was one such creator".
President on Jnanpith Awardees:

"When one looks at the stars in the constellation of Jnanpith awardees, it gives us a shining view of the linguistic diversity inherent in the ancient artistic and linguistic unique heritage of India. The authors in this list have each, excelled in celebrating this diversity and at the same time strengthening its essential unity and centrality of purpose."

Some quotes from President's speech:

"On this occasion of presentation of Jnanpith award also gives us an opportunity to recall the contributions of Late Sahu Shanti Prasad Jain and Late Smt. Rama Jain, whose efforts in promoting Indian languages and literature and establishing the Bhartiya Jnanpith remain a shining example."

"It is not possible on the part of one agency to ensure the full-fledged development of art, literature and development of creativity. It can only be possible by the efforts of society as a whole."

"I am happy that the corporate sector had come forward nearly a century ago to nurture and recognise talent. Today, many more such organisations with the objective of serving society are coming up."

"It is through translation of literature in various languages that makes it possible for a wider section of people to have access to it. He said that Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore won the Noble Prize many years ago. In the period after that, Indian literature has not been less rich. However, there is need to propagate the literature in India and take the creative genius of Indian languages to the world audience."