Tamil Nadu Launches ₹5 Lakh 'Semmozhi Illakiya Virudhu' for Major Indian Languages

Tamil Nadu Institutes ‘Semmozhi Illakiya Virudhu’, A National Literary Award for Non-Hindi Languages

In a significant move to promote literary diversity, the Tamil Nadu government, led by Chief Minister M K Stalin, has announced the establishment of an annual state-sponsored literary honour. The award, named  ‘Semmozhi Illakiya Virudhu’ (Classical Language Literary Award) , was unveiled at the closing ceremony of the Chennai International Book Fair, positioning the state as a new patron of pan-Indian literature.

Award Structure and National Character
The award is designed to recognize outstanding literary works across major Indian languages, explicitly excluding Hindi from its current scope. Each award will carry a substantial cash prize of  ₹5 lakh . Chief Minister Stalin emphasized that the honour is conceived with a  national-level character , aiming to transcend regional linguistic boundaries and celebrate literary excellence on a broader canvas.

Phase-One Language Focus
For its inaugural phase, the award will encompass literary works in  seven major Indian languages :  Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Odiya, Bengali, and Marathi . This selection underscores the state’s focus on languages with rich, classical, and extensive literary traditions. The government has indicated that more languages may be included in future expansions of the scheme.

Critique of Central Intervention and Autonomy Assurance
During his announcement, CM Stalin referenced the recent controversy surrounding the postponement of the  Sahitya Akademi Awards , alleging undue interference by the Union Ministry of Culture. He termed such political intervention in literary spheres as “dangerous” and an obstacle to creative freedom. The announcement is positioned as a constructive response to appeals from writers and literary bodies seeking stable, unbiased recognition platforms.

Independent Committee-Driven Selection
To ensure credibility and insulate the process from political influence, the Tamil Nadu government will function solely as the patron. The actual selection of awardees will be entrusted to  independent expert committees . For each of the seven languages, a separate panel comprising reputed writers and scholars will be formed. This mechanism is designed to  uphold literary merit and ensure transparency .

Exam-Focused Important Facts:

• The  Semmozhi Illakiya Virudhu  is a  state-sponsored literary award  by the  Tamil Nadu government .

• It carries a  cash prize of ₹5 lakh  per language.

• The first phase covers  seven languages : Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Odiya, Bengali, and Marathi.

• The award aims for a  national character  but currently  excludes Hindi .

• Selection will be conducted by  independent committees of writers  for each language, with the government acting only as a patron.

• The announcement was made at the  Chennai International Book Fair .