Telugu poet Nandini Sidda Reddy among 24 selected for Sahitya Akademi Award

Telugu poet Nandini Sidda Reddy is among the 24 writers selected for the Sahitya Akademi Awards 2025. English author Navtej Sarna and Hindi writer Mamta Kalia are also among the recipients announced by the Sahitya Akademi

New Delhi: Telugu poet Nandini Sidda Reddy is among the 24 authors across languages selected for the 2025 Sahitya Akademi Awards, the National Academy of Letters announced on Monday. English author and former ambassador Navtej Sarna and Hindi writer Mamta Kalia are also among the awardees.

The announcement has come months after the academy cancelled a scheduled press conference in December 2025 to declare the awards.

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“Sahitya Akademi is happy to announce its annual Sahitya Akademi Awards in 24 Indian languages recognised by it. 8 books of poetry, 4 novels, 6 books of short stories, 2 essays, 1 literary criticism, 1 autobiography and 2 memoirs have won the Sahitya Akademi Awards 2025,” it said in a statement.

Sarna has been named the recipient for his novel ‘Crimson Spring’ while Kalia will receive the award for her memoir ‘Jeete Jee Allahabad’. Reddy has been selected for the award for his poetry collection ‘Animesha’ in Telugu.

The awardees will receive a casket containing an engraved copper plaque, a shawl and an amount of Rs 1 lakh at a ceremony on March 31, the academy said.

Other awardees include Prasun Bandyopadhyay for ‘Shrestha Kabita’ in Bengali, Yogesh Vaidya for ‘Bhattkhadaki’ in Gujarati, Amresh Nugadoni for ‘Dada Seerisu Tande’ in Kannada, N Prabhakaran for ‘Maayamanushyar’ in Malayalam, Raju Baviskar for ‘Kalyanilya Resha’ in Marathi, Jinder for ‘Safety Kit’ in Punjabi, Jitender Kumar Soni for ‘Bharkhama’ in Rajasthani and Sa Tamilselvan for ‘Thamiz Sirukathaiyin Thadangal’ in Tamil.

Pritpal Singh Betab for ‘Safar Jari Hai’ in Urdu, Bhagwan Atlani for ‘Waghoo’ in Sindhi, Sumitra Soren for ‘Mid Birna Chenne Saon Inag Sagai’ in Santali, Mahamahopadhyay Sahu Bhadreshdas for ‘Prasthanacatustaye Brahmaghosah’ in Sanskrit, Girijakumar Baliyar Singh for ‘Padapurana’ in Odia, Prakash Bhattarai for ‘Nepali Paramparik Sanskriti Ra Sabhyata Ko Dukuti’ in Nepali and Haobam Nalini for ‘Kanglamdriba Eephut’ in Manipuri are also among the recipients of the award.