Yashwantrao Chavan Maharashtra Open University, based in Nashik, has announced that the Kusumagraj National Award for this year will be presented to renowned Assamese poet Nilim Kumar.
The award, established in 2010, honors the memory of Kusumagraj, a celebrated Marathi poet, playwright, and recipient of the Jnanpith and Padma Bhushan awards. It is managed by the Kusumagraj Chair at the university and recognizes poets who have made significant contributions to Indian literature.
Nilim Kumar will join a distinguished list of past recipients, which includes prominent poets such as Gulzar (Urdu), K. Satchidanandan (Malayalam), Chandrakant Devtale (Hindi), Temsula Ao (English), Surjit Patar (Punjabi), Vishnu Khare (Hindi), Sitanshu Yashaschandra (Gujarati), H.S. Shivaprakash (Kannada), and Ved Rahi (Dogri). He is the first Assamese poet to receive this prestigious award.
The award includes a cash prize of Rs 1,00,000, a citation, and a memento. It will be formally presented to Nilim Kumar at a ceremony on February 12, 2025, in Nashik. The university has arranged for a comfortable stay for the poet during the event.
The selection committee, led by esteemed poet and translator Dr. Chandrakant Patil, unanimously chose Nilim Kumar for the honor, recognizing his remarkable contributions to Indian poetry and his influence on Assamese and Indian literature.
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