New Delhi, March 14 (UNI) Bharatiya Jnanpith on Saturday announced that the 60th Jnanpith Award for the year 2025 will be conferred upon the eminent Tamil litterateur R Vairamuthu. He is being honored for his remarkable contribution to Tamil literature, his creativity, and his distinctive poetic expression.
The decision was taken unanimously in a meeting of the selection board of Bharatiya Jnanpith. The committee comprised eminent scholars and literary figures, including Prof. Pratibha Ray (chairperson), along with members — Madhav Kaushik, Damodar Mauzo, Dr Suranjan Das, Dr A. Krishna Rao, Prafull Shiledar, Dr Keshu Bhai Desai, Dr Janaki Prasad Sharma, Dr K. Srinivas Rao, and the senior publication officer of Jnanpith, Dr Maheshwar.
The renowned Tamil poet, lyricist, and novelist Vairamuthu was born on July 13, 1953, in Tamil Nadu. He is regarded as one of the significant contemporary writers in Tamil literature. His poetry and writings vividly portray human sensitivity, social concerns, and a deep awareness of nature.
His poetic works are widely admired for their originality, emotional depth, and cultural consciousness.
He has written more than 37 books, including poetry collections and novels. Some of his major literary works include Kallikattu Ithihasam, Karuvachi Kaviyam, Thanneer Desam, and Moondram Ulaga Por (The Third World War).
During his 40-year career, Vairamuthu has received numerous honors, including the National Film Award for Best Lyricist seven times, the Padma Bhushan (2014), the Padma Shri (2003), the Sahitya Akademi Award (2003) for his novel Kallikattu Ithihasam, and the Kalaimamani Award from the government of Tamil Nadu for his contribution to the arts.
While taking the decision, the selection board noted that Tamil is one of the major languages of India, yet until now only two Tamil writers — PV Akilan (1975) and D. Jayakanthan (2002) — had received the Jnanpith Award. The conferring of this honour on Vairamuthu helps bridge that long gap.
The Jnanpith Award is India’s highest literary honour, presented to writers for outstanding literary contributions to Indian languages. The award carries a cash prize of Rs 11 lakh, a bronze statue of Vagdevi (Saraswati), and a citation.
