New Delhi : President Pranab Mukherjee Monday conferred the 49th Jnanpith Award, the country’s highest literary award, on eminent Hindi poet Kedarnath Singh.
Mukherjee said that he was pleased to award Jnanpith to Kedarnath Singh for his outstanding contribution towards Indian literature.
“I am sure that Singh would continue to enrich Hindi literature in the years to come,” he said, adding that Singh, through his poetry, has offered a rare assimilation of rhymes and lyrical prose, exploring both the realms of reality and fantasy with equal felicity.
“His poetry presents a collage of meaning, colours and acceptance. A poet of unique stature, his approach is not only sensitive to modern aesthetics but also to traditional rural communities while at all times being committed to the celebration called life,” he said.
Mukherjee stated that it is his fond wish that the younger generation delves deep into Indian classics.
“This will not only help in resetting the moral compass but would also go a long way in contributing to our efforts at nation building,” he said, adding his hope that “Bharatiya Jnanpith will adequately work out ways of exposing our youth to the brilliance of our literature”.