Who is the author of the book “Sanskriti Ri Sanatan Deeth”?
- (1)Dr. Satyanarayan
- (2)Arjun Dev Charan
- (3)Aidan Singh Bhati
- (4)Bhanwar Singh Samaur
Answer
Why
Correct — option (4), Bhanwar Singh Samaur.
On 25 August 2021 the Sahitya Akademi issued a press release. Its President, Dr. Chandrashekhar Kambar, "has approved Sahitya Akademi Award 2020 in Rajasthani for Sanskriti Ri Sanatan Deeth authored by Bhanwar Singh Samour, an eminent Rajasthani writer."
The Akademi spells the surname Samour; the option prints it as Samaur. Both refer to Bhanwar Singh Samaur, the book's author.
The release says the book was selected unanimously, on the recommendation of a three-member jury: Sri Harish B. Sharma, Dr. Dev Kothari and Dr. P.C. Acharya.
The Akademi's list of Rajasthani awards classifies the book as Essays.
The idea to remember: Sanskriti Ri Sanatan Deeth, a Rajasthani essay collection by Bhanwar Singh Samaur, won the Sahitya Akademi Award 2020 in Rajasthani.
Why the others are wrong
- (1)Dr. Satyanarayan — The Sahitya Akademi's press release of 25 August 2021 names Bhanwar Singh Samour as the author of Sanskriti Ri Sanatan Deeth. Dr. Satyanarayan is not named in it.
The award list for Rajasthani records the 2020 award under Samour's name alone.
- (2)Arjun Dev Charan — Arjun Dev Charan did not write Sanskriti Ri Sanatan Deeth. The Sahitya Akademi's Rajasthani list records an earlier award to him, under the spelling Arjun Deo Charan: 1992, for Dharam Judh (Plays).
The 2020 award, for Sanskriti Ri Sanatan Deeth, went to Bhanwar Singh Samour.
- (3)Aidan Singh Bhati — Aidan Singh Bhati is not the author of this book. The Sahitya Akademi's Rajasthani list records his own award, under the spelling Aaidan Singh Bhati: 2012, for Aankh Hinye Ra Hariyal Sapana (Poetry).
Sanskriti Ri Sanatan Deeth, the 2020 winner, is by Bhanwar Singh Samour.
Concept
The Sahitya Akademi, India's National Academy of Letters, is an autonomous organisation of the Government of India under the Ministry of Culture. It gives annual awards for books in the languages it recognises.
The Akademi's award list shows a Rajasthani section "Since 1974".
For the 2020 award, eligible books were those first published between 1 January 2014 and 31 December 2018. The release says the 2020 award, a casket containing an engraved copper-plaque and a cheque of Rs. 1,00,000, would be presented at a special function later.
RPSC's 2021 syllabus lists "Literature of Rajasthani language and Folk literature" as part of "Language & Literature", and "Persons, Places and Institutions in News." under Current Affairs.
Rajasthani is not among the 22 languages in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution, yet the Sahitya Akademi has given a Rajasthani award since 1974.
The 2020 Rajasthani award was announced on 25 August 2021, about two months before the RAS Prelims of 27 October 2021.
Key facts
- 25 August 2021: the Sahitya Akademi announced its 2020 award in Rajasthani for Sanskriti Ri Sanatan Deeth by Bhanwar Singh Samour.
- The Akademi's list classifies Sanskriti Ri Sanatan Deeth as Essays.
- The book was selected unanimously by a jury of Harish B. Sharma, Dev Kothari and P.C. Acharya.
- Earlier Rajasthani awards: Arjun Deo Charan (1992, Dharam Judh) and Aaidan Singh Bhati (2012, Aankh Hinye Ra Hariyal Sapana).
- The 2020 award: a casket with an engraved copper-plaque and a cheque of Rs. 1,00,000, to be presented at a later function.
Source: Sahitya Akademi award list (Rajasthani) and press release of 25 August 2021. Spellings as the Akademi prints them.
Study next
Common traps
- Spelling variants: the Akademi prints Samour, Arjun Deo Charan and Aaidan Singh Bhati, while the options print Samaur, Arjun Dev Charan and Aidan Singh Bhati.
- Award year versus announcement date: the Sahitya Akademi Award 2020 in Rajasthani was announced on 25 August 2021.
- Earlier winners are not later authors: Arjun Deo Charan (1992) and Aaidan Singh Bhati (2012) won for other books.
A question can give the title of an award-winning Rajasthani book and ask its author.
A question can also name the author and ask the book, the year of the award, or the literary form of the book.
Related PYQs
UnlockIAS will link similar questions from RAS Pre 2018 here once that paper is published on this site.
Practice
- practice — not a real PYQ
Which Rajasthani writer received the Sahitya Akademi Award 2012 for 'Aankh Hinye Ra Hariyal Sapana'?
- (a)Aaidan Singh Bhati
- (b)Ambika Dutt
- (c)Atul Kanak
- (d)Bhanwar Singh Samour
Answer(1) — The Sahitya Akademi's Rajasthani list gives the 2012 award to Aaidan Singh Bhati for this book (Poetry). Option (2) won in 2013, option (3) in 2011 and option (4) in 2020. - practice — not a real PYQ
The Sahitya Akademi Award 2020 was given for books first published during which period?
- (a)1 January 2014 to 31 December 2018
- (b)1 January 2015 to 31 December 2019
- (c)1 January 2016 to 31 December 2020
- (d)1 January 2010 to 31 December 2014
Answer(1) — The Akademi's press release says the award relates to books first published during the five years immediately preceding the year of award, between 1 January 2014 and 31 December 2018. Options (2), (3) and (4) give other periods.