Anita Desai, Duggal, Kelekar elected Sahitya Akademi's Fellows

Famed litterateurs Anita Desai (English), Kartar Singh Duggal (Punjabi) and Ravindra Kelekar (Konkani) have been elected ''Fellows'' of the Sahitya Akademi -- the highest honour of the Akademi -- while Britain-based Prof. R E Asher has become its 'Honorary Fellow'.

The Sahitya Akademi's 'Fellow' is reserved for the ''immortals of literature' and limited to twenty-one only at any given time.

The Akademi's constitution also provides for electing 'Honorary Fellows' from among literary persons of outstanding merit who are not nationals of India, provided their number will not exceed ten at any given time.

Prof. R E Asher, the distinguished writer and scholar from Britain, was elected Honorary Fellow in recognition of his contribution to Indian languages and literature.

The decision to elect three 'Fellows' and one 'Honorary Fellow' was taken at a meeting of the General Council of the Sahitya Akademi, held under the chairmanship of its President Gopi Chand Narang.

Prof. Desai, an eminent English fiction writer and novelist, has been known for her prodigious but quality writing and herworks include Cat on a Houseboat, Fire on the Mountain, which fetched her the Sahitya Akademi Award, the Peacock Garden and Riding the Midnight River.

A recipient of Padma Shri, she has also received a number of prestigious awards, including The Winifred Holtby Prize (Royal Society of Literature, London), The Neil Gunn Award, the Helen Cam Fellow and the Ashby Fellow.

A famous Punjabi fiction writer, Dr. Duggal was Director of the National Book Trust. A former Rajya Sabha member, his works have been translated into several Indian and foreign languages.

Amoing his prominent works are 'Dangar', 'Nawan Ghar', 'Ladai Nahin', Sonar Bangla' (all short stories), Puranian Botlan, Buddham Sharanam Gachchami (all Plays) and Kandhe Kandhe and Band Darwaza (both poetry).

A pioneer of modern Konakani movement and political journalism, Mr Ravinder Kelekar received Sahitya Akademi Award for his travelogue 'Himalayant'. He has also been a recipient of Konkani Bhasha Mandal Award and Hoa Kala Academy Award.

Prof Asher has made significant contribution to Indian languages and literature, particularly to Malyalam and Tamil languages. In recognition of his contribution to Malayalam language, the Kerala Sahitya Akademi awarded him its Gold Medal.

UNI/SKS VD RK1905

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