The 58th Jnanpith Award, India’s highest literary honour, was presented by President Droupadi Murmu to Gulzar, a renowned poet and lyricist, and Rambhadracharya, a spiritual scholar and Sanskrit poet, in May 2025.
The event held at Vigyan Bhavan honoured their unique and lasting contributions to Indian literature—Gulzar for his emotional lyrics and screenwriting, and Rambhadracharya for his devotional writings and work in education for the visually impaired.
This recognition reflects the diversity and depth of India’s cultural and literary heritage.
About the Jnanpith Award
- Instituted: 1961 by Bharatiya Jnanpith.
- Presented by: Bharatiya Jnanpith organization.
- Purpose: To honour outstanding contributions to Indian literature.
- Components of the award: Citation, cash prize, and a bronze idol of Vagdevi (Saraswati).
- Previous notable recipients: Mahadevi Verma, Amrita Pritam, Girish Karnad, Pratibha Ray.
Rambhadracharya
- Real name: Jagadguru Ramanandacharya Swami Rambhadracharya.
- Known for: Four Sanskrit epics including Geet Ramayan and Dashavatara Charitam.
Gulzar
- Real name: Sampooran Singh Kalra.
- Known for: Iconic poems and songs like Tujhse Naraz Nahi Zindagi, Chaiyya Chaiyya, Humko Mann Ki Shakti Dena.
