Lyricist Gulzar Named with 58th Jnanpith Award, Elevating Urdu’s Lyrical Legacy

The recipients of the 58th Jnanpith Award were announced on Saturday. The selection committee has named lyricist Gulzar and Sanskrit scholar Jagadguru Rambhadracharya. It marked another significant achievement in their career for valuable contributions to literature and language. 

Rambhadracharya is an inspiration to all. Despite losing his sight at the age of five. Rambhadracharya has written over 240 books and texts, including four epics and a Hindi commentary on Ramcharitmanas, demonstrating his unwavering dedication to knowledge. 

On the other hand, Gulzar has a career of over six decades and has written countless poems and lyrics for several films. He has undeniably left a profound impression on numerous people with his poignant verses in Urdu, Punjabi, and Hindi.

About Jnanpith Award

The Jnanpith Award was established in 1961. It is the most prestigious literary award in India and is presented annually to an author for their exceptional contribution to literature.

The award is given exclusively to Indian writers who write in languages included in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of India, as well as English. It is not given posthumously. 

Gulzar Wins Jnanpith

Already been recognized with the Sahitya Akademi Award and Padma Bhushan in 2004; he also received the 81st Oscar in 2009 for Best Original Song “Jai Ho (alongside A R Rahman)”.

The following year, the song “Jai Ho” earned him a Grammy Award in the category of ‘Best Song Written for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media’. In 2014, he received the Dadasaheb Phalke Award. 

He is also known for inventing the new three-line poetic genre, ‘Triveni.’

Warmest congratulations to Gulzar Sahib on winning India’s highest literary award for lifetime achievement, the Jnanpith Award, for his extraordinary services to Urdu poetry. Richly deserved! One of those rare accolades applauded both by the general public & the cognoscenti 🙏 pic.twitter.com/41BXxPFRWJ

— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) February 17, 2024

Gulzar also expressed his joy about receiving the award, stating that The Jnanpith Award is satisfying because it has come to him for his work in Urdu.

When people ask about how he could write so well in the Urdu language, he explains that Urdu and Hindi have the same base.

Urdu is a part of Hindustan, and he would continue his literary pursuits in the language. India is fortunate to have a wide variety of languages, each with its unique nuances.

Career Breakthrough

Hailing from Punjab, Gulzar commenced his professional journey in 1956. Delving into the domain of poetic expression, he achieved his breakthrough through Bimal Roy’s Bandini.

Gulzar has collaborated with renowned music directors such as R D Burman, A R Rahman, and Vishal Bhardwaj. Beyond his lyrical finesse, he has also contributed as a scriptwriter and dialogue architect to various movies.

Gulzar’s works and lyrics establish him as a respected literary icon whose words will continue to inspire future generations. 

In the realm of English Language Literature, Amitav Ghosh stands as a solitary figure who has been honored with the prestigious Jnanpith Award. Through his masterful storytelling, Ghosh has captivated readers worldwide with his works such as ‘Shadow Lines’, ‘The Glass Palace’, ‘The Hungry Tide’ etc.

It was truly amazing to learn that I am the youngest writer ever to get the Jnanpith Award… https://t.co/5Xj6EkJaEk

— Amitav Ghosh (@GhoshAmitav) June 12, 2019