Tamil writer Imayam. | Photo credit: B. Thamodharan
Sahitya Akademi winner and writer Imayam thanked Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin for announcing the institution of Semmozhi Literary Award to be given annually for outstanding works in seven Indian languages.
On January 8, Mr. Imayam wrote to the Chief Minister requesting to establish an award similar to the Jnanpith award to honor writers at the national level. He suggested that the award should either be called Tamil Peedam or bear the name preferred by Mr. Stalin. “It is the need of the hour and only the Chief Minister can fulfill it,” he said.
The Association of Progressive Writers and Artists of Tamil Nadu also called on the Chief Minister to introduce the award as the Union government has withheld the Sahitya Akademi Award for 2025. On Sunday, Mr. Stalin announced the establishment of an award for works in Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu, Kannada, Odia, Marathi and Bengali with an annual cash prize of ₹5 lakh in Bengali.
Published – 19 Jan 2026 18:58 IST
