Ibomcha's Sanskar selected for National Sahitya Akademi Award

New Delhi, February 20 : The Executive Board of Sahitiya Akademi which met at Rabindra Bhawan on Monday under President Sunil Gangopadhyay approved 16 books for the Sahitya Akademi Translation Award 2008 including Yumlembam Ibomchas Manipuri translation-Sanskar of Kannada litterateur Dr.

U.R.Anantha Murthys novel Samskara.

The books were selected on the basis of recommendations made by selection committee of three members each in concerned language in accordance with the rules and procedures laid down for the purpose.

The prize related to translation of books published during last five years.

The prize carried an amount of Rs.20,000 and an engraved copper plaque.

The awards will be given in August 2009 at a convenient time.

Yumlembam Ibomcha of Keishampat Leimajam Leikai, Imphal was already honoured the National Sahitya Akademi award for the year 1991 for his short story Numitti Ashum Thengjillakli published in 1989.He was honoured the Manipur State Kala Akademi Award for the year 1974 for his poetry- Shandrembi Thoraklo Nahum Ponjel Shabige published in 1974 .

Yumlembam Ibomcha now in Bangalore said that he was happy to hear the news.

He said that the novel was translated in Manipuri as assigned by the Sahitya Akademi, Kolkata and it was published by the Sahitya Akademi.

Samskara, the novel written by U.R.Anantha Murthy,was first published in 1965 in Kannada, A.K.Ramanujan translated it to English in 1978 .

Konkani litterateur Prakash G.Thali also bagged the Sahitya Akademi Translation Award for the year 1994 in the same novel of U.R.Anatha Murthy translated in Konkani language.