Eminent Gujarati poet Sitanshu Yashaschandra's poetry collection "Vakhar" has been chosen for the Saraswati Samman for 2017, the K K Birla Foundation has announced.
The selection for the award is made by a high level 'Chayan Parishad' (selection committee), presided over by former secretary general of Lok Sabha, Subhash C Kashyap.
"In the 'chayan parishad' meeting, books were discussed thoroughly and 'Vakhar' (poetry) by Shri Sitanshu Yashaschandra has been selected for Saraswati Samman, 2017. This book was published in 2009," the foundation said.
Instituted in 1991, the prestigious award recognises an "outstanding" literary work every year written in any Indian language and published during the last 10 years.
Born in 1941 in Bhuj, Yashaschandra is one of the most eminent representatives of contemporary Gujarati literature.
A poet, playwright, translator and academic, he has authored three books of poetry, "Vakhar" being one of them.
The collection engages with larger and more immediate human conditions and hence with "the political".
His other poetry works include 'Odysseusnu Halesu-n' and 'Jatayu'.
He has also authored 10 books of plays and three books of criticism.
Yashaschandra has also been the recipient of Sahitya Akademi Award, Kabir Samman and Padma Shri among others.
Last year Saraswati Samman was given to Konkani novelist Mahabaleshwar Sail.
The recipients of the award are given a cash prize of Rs 15 lakhs, a citation and a plaque.
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