- Assamese poet NilmaniPhookan Jr won the 56th Jnanpith Award and Konkani novelist DamodarMauzo won the 57th Jnanpith Award.
- The country’s highest literary award, the Jnanpith is bestowed on writers for “their outstanding contribution to literature”.
- Mauzo has previously won the Sahitya Akademi Award. He is known for his novels, such as Karmelin, and Tsunami Simon, and short stories Teresa’s Man and Other Stories from Goa.
- Phookan is a Sahitya Akademi and Padma Shri awardee. He is a poet of renown and has written Surya HenuNamiAheEiNodiyedi, GulapiJamurLagna, and Kobita.
