Writer Namita Gokhale was conferred the Centenary National Award for Literature by the Asam Sahitya Sabha in Guwahati on Saturday.
The organisation said it decided to present the first Centenary National Award for Literature to Gokhale “for her literary contributions as well as her service to the nation in supporting and showcasing literary talents and creating a literary environment in the country”.
Gokhale, the first English language writer to receive an award from the organisation, said it was a unique honour. “The soul of Indian literature resides in our Indian languages, and so this recognition from such a renowned organisation gains even deeper meaning and value for me,” she said.
Gokhale is the co-founder of the Jaipur and Bhutan literature festivals. She has written 16 works of fiction and non-fiction. Some of her famous works include A Himalayan Love Story, The Book of Shadows and Paro: Dreams of Passion.
Dhruba Jyoti Borah, the President of the Asam Sahitya Sabha, said they were delighted to present the award to Gokhale. He described her as “one of our most sensitive and finest writers, and one who through her untiring efforts is knitting the country together across languages through literature.”
The Asam Sahitya Sabha is a non-profit, non-government organisation that was established in 1917.
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