President Droupadi Murmu today conferred the 58th Jnanpith Award on Sanskrit scholar Jagadguru Rambhadracharya at a function in New Delhi. Jagadguru Rambhadracharya and the renowned Urdu poet and lyricist Gulzar have been selected for this prestigious award for 2023. These eminent personalities have been honoured with this award for their outstanding contribution in the field of literature.

Speaking on the occasion, the president congratulated Jagadguru Rambhadracharya and Gulzar for the Jnanpith Award. However, Gulzar could not attend the award ceremony as he is not well. President Murmu said that literature unites and awakens society. The president said, from the social awakening of the 19th century to the country’s freedom struggle in the 20th century, poets and writers have played a great role in connecting people. She said the song ‘Vande Mataram’, composed by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, has been awakening the children of Mother India for almost 150 years and will always do so.

Speaking about Jagadguru Rambhadracharya, the president said that he has set an inspiring example of excellence. She expressed confidence that by taking inspiration from his glorious life, future generations will continue to move ahead on the right path in literary creation, society-building, and nation-building.

The President praised the Bharatiya Jnanpith Trust for awarding outstanding litterateurs of various Indian languages since 1965. She stated that in the process of awarding outstanding literary figures in Indian languages, the selectors of the Bharatiya Jnanpith Award have selected the best literary figures and have preserved and promoted the dignity of this award.

On the occasion, Jagadguru Rambhadracharya expressed happiness on receiving the award, saying his literary work was recognised.