Assamese Poet Nilmani Phookan and Damodar Mauzo, a Konkani novelist, received the 56th and 57th Jnanpith Awards for their contributions to Indian literature. The 56th Jnanpith Award went to eminent Assamese poet Nilmani Phookan Jr., while the 57th Jnanpith Award went to Konkani novelist Damodar Mauzo. The country’s highest literary award, the Jnanpith is bestowed on writers for “their outstanding contribution to literature”. Jnanpith Award is a literary award presented by the Bharatiya Jnanpith organization to Indian writers every year. Jnanpith Award was instituted in 1961 and is bestowed only on the Indian writers who write within the Indian languages that are included within the 8th schedule of the Constitution of India.
