SAHITYA AKADEMI

SAHITYA AKADEMI

The proposal to establish a National Academy of Letters in India had been under the consideration of the British Government of the country long before independence. In 1944, the Government of India accepted in principle a proposal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Bengal that a National Cultural trust should be set up to encourage cultural activities in all fields. After freedom, the Government of India decided to establish a National Academy of Letters to be called Sahitya Akademi by its resolution No F-6-4/51G2(A) dated December 1952. The Sahitya Akademi was formally inaugurated by the Government of India on March 12, 1954. Its emblem has ‘Sahitya’ in Devanagari written in reverse in red background frormed by a silhouette of an Indian lamp with flame. Lamp with flame symbolises life, knowledge, vibrancy and life.