We can learn a lot from the past: Prof Purushottam Agrawal honoured with Sahitya Akademi’s Bhasha Samman

“We can learn a lot from the past but only when we continue to respect the pastness of the past.” Eminent thinker and philosopher Professor Purushottam Agarwal said this in his acceptance speech after receiving the Bhasha Samman at the Bhasha Samman Arpan Samaroh organized by the Sahitya Akademi. He said that it is a matter of pride for me to receive this honour.
Purushottam Agrawal, who has been honoured for the classics and medieval literature of the northern region, said that through my work I have tried to understand the early modern India, especially northern India, in totality. It is my clear understanding that India of the 15th, 16th and 17th centuries was not an India waiting for the incarnation of European modernity for salvation, but an India moving towards modernity developing from its own tradition.
Bhasha-Samman for the year 2021 and 2023 were conferred at the Bhasha-Samman Arpan Samaroh organized by Sahitya Akademi. The program was presided over by Sahitya Akademi President Madhav Kaushik. In his presidential address, Kaushik said that this honour is an honour for our Rishi tradition, which is also an honour for the Indian knowledge tradition in a way. We can call it a celebration of Indian knowledge. He further said that these language scholars have done a very important job of bringing the classics and medieval literature to the common people in their language. Therefore, by awarding them, Sahitya Akademi is also feeling honoured.
In his welcome address, Sahitya Akademi Secretary K Srinivas Rao said that all the knowledge of India is for the welfare of mankind and is available to every section of society. Our knowledge is global in nature. Therefore, extinction of any language means extinction of the culture of a society. The Akademi is constantly making efforts to preserve these oral languages.
Among the awardees, Classical and Medieval Literature-2021 was given to Purushottam Agrawal for the Northern region and Betvolu Ramabrahmam for the Southern region; Classical and Medieval Literature-2023 was given to Avtar Singh for the Northern region and Keji Paulos for the Southern region. Durga Charan Shukla was given Bhasha Samman Year 2023 for his outstanding contribution to the enrichment of Bundeli language and literature and Renthlei Lalrona and Rozama Chaunthu were given for the enrichment of Mizo language and literature. Shukla could not come to receive the award due to ill health. As a reward, the decorated scholars were given an amount of Rs 1 lakh, an engraved copper plaque and a citation by Sahitya Akademi President Madhav Kaushik. After receiving the award, all the awardee language experts presented their acceptance statements, which included the experiences of their creative journey so far.