Jnanpith & Akademi — Set 3

Correct Answer: D. None of these

The correct answer is 'None of these'. Amitav Ghosh actually won the Jnanpith Award much later, in 2018. He was the first author to win the award for works written in the English language. In 1992, the award was actually won by the Odia writer Sitakant Mahapatra.

Correct Answer: B. Viswanatha Satyanarayana

Viswanatha Satyanarayana won the award in 1970 for his epic 'Ramayana Kalpavrukshamu'. He was a versatile genius who wrote novels, plays, and critical essays. He is often called 'Kavi Samrat' in the Telugu literary world.

Correct Answer: B. 2015

Since the first award was presented in 1965, the year 2015 marked 50 years of its presentation. The first award was given to G. Sankara Kurup. The ceremony is one of the most awaited events in the Indian literary calendar.

Correct Answer: C. 1989

The translation prize was established in 1989 to encourage the exchange of literature between different languages. It is given to the best translation published in any of the 24 languages. This helps in building a bridge between diverse regional cultures in India.

Correct Answer: A. Girish Karnad

Girish Karnad was a master of modern Indian drama who used history and mythology to comment on contemporary issues. He wrote his plays in Kannada and translated them into English himself. He was also a well-known actor and director in the Indian film industry.

Correct Answer: A. Umashankar Joshi

Umashankar Joshi was a leading modernist poet and writer in Gujarati literature. 'Nishitha' is his most famous collection of poems. He later served as the Vice-Chancellor of Gujarat University and as a member of the Rajya Sabha.

Correct Answer: A. Firaq Gorakhpuri

Firaq Gorakhpuri received the Jnanpith Award in 1969 for his collection of poems 'Gul-e-Naghma'. He was a professor of English at Allahabad University. He is regarded as one of the finest Urdu poets of the 20th century.

Correct Answer: C. Malayalam

Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai was a giant of Malayalam literature known for his realistic portrayal of local life. He is famous globally for his novel 'Chemmeen', which was also made into an award-winning film. His writing often dealt with the themes of class and social justice.

Correct Answer: B. Amitav Ghosh

Amitav Ghosh's 'The Shadow Lines' is a masterpiece of contemporary Indian fiction. It won the Akademi award before he eventually won the Jnanpith decades later. The book is widely studied in universities for its complex treatment of memory and nationalism.

Correct Answer: B. S.K. Pottekkatt

S.K. Pottekkatt was a famous novelist and travel writer from Kerala. 'Smaraka Silakal' translates to 'Memorial Stones'. He traveled extensively around the world and documented his experiences in several influential books.