Saraswati Samman Winners List (1991-2025)

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Published Sep 20, 2026 Updated Sep 20, 2026 1 min read

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Name	Saraswati Samman
Award For	Outstanding contributions in literature
Award By	K. K. Birla Foundation
First Award	1991
First Awardee	Harivansh Rai Bachchan
Last Award	2025
Last Awardee	Dr. Ramkumar Mukhopadhyay
Total Awarded	35
Status	active
Official URL	https://jnanpith.net/

About Saraswati Samman

The Saraswati Samman is one of India's most prestigious literary awards, instituted in 1991 by the K. K. Birla Foundation. It annually recognizes outstanding prose or poetry published in any of the 22 languages listed in Schedule VIII of the Indian Constitution.

Saraswati Samman (1991-2025) Winners List

This Winners List features 35 winners of the Saraswati Samman, from 1991 to 2025.

Image	Year	Recipient Name	Profession	Book Name	Language	Book Type

	2025	Dr. Ramkumar Mukhopadhyay	Bengali novelist and short-story writer; former Director of the Publishing Department at Visva-Bharati University	Hara Parbati Katha	Bengali	Novel
A prominent Bengali fiction writer known for novels such as "Charane Prantare" and short-story collections including "Madale Natun Bol." Formerly associated with Visva-Bharati's publishing wing, he has written extensively on rural Bengal and human relationships. He won the Saraswati Samman 2025 for his Bengali novel "Hara Parbati Katha," recognizing his contribution to contemporary Bengali literature and his decades-long literary career.
	2024	Bhadreshdas Swami	Sanskrit scholar and Vedanta philosopher; ordained monk of the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha	Swaminarayana Siddhanta Sudha	Sanskrit	Sanskrit Vāda Grantha
A BAPS Swaminarayan monk and Sanskrit scholar renowned for authoring the "Swaminarayan Bhashyam," a five-volume Sanskrit commentary on the Prasthanatrayi establishing Akshar-Purushottam Darshan as a distinct Vedanta school. He won the Saraswati Samman 2024 for his Sanskrit philosophical work "Swaminarayana Siddhanta Sudha" (published 2022), becoming the first monk-scholar to receive the award for a Sanskrit-language work.
	2023	Prabha Varma Also won: Sahitya Akademi Award (2016) , Vayalar Award (2013) , ONV Kurup Literary Award (2025)	Malayalam poet, journalist, lyricist, and media commentator	Roudra Sathwikam	Malayalam	Verse Novel
A leading Malayalam poet and journalist known for verse-novels blending mythology with contemporary themes, including "Shyama Madhavam" and "Kanal Chilambu." He has also worked extensively in journalism and television as a commentator. Prabha Varma won the Saraswati Samman 2023 for his poetic work "Roudra Sathwikam," a novel in verse exploring the epic character Ashwatthama and themes of rage and restraint.
	2022	Sivasankari	Tamil novelist, short-story writer, and social activist	Surya Vamsam	Tamil	Memoir
A prolific Tamil author of over 200 works, including novels like "Oru Manithanin Kathai" and "47 Naatkal," many adapted into films and TV serials; also known for her multi-volume oral-history project "Knit India Through Literature." She won the Saraswati Samman 2022 for her memoir "Surya Vamsam," recognizing her lifelong contribution to Tamil literature and social documentation.
	2021	Ramdarash Mishra Also won: Sahitya Akademi Award (2015) , Vyas Samman (2011)	Hindi poet, novelist, and academic (former professor at Delhi University)	Main to Yahan Hun	Hindi	Poetry
A towering figure of post-independence Hindi literature, author of over 150 books spanning poetry, novels, and short stories rooted in rural life and humanist philosophy. He won the Saraswati Samman 2021 for his poetry collection "Main To Yahan Hoon." He died in Delhi on 31 October 2025 at age 101, prompting condolences from the Indian Prime Minister and tributes across the Hindi literary world.
	2020	Sharankumar Limbale	Marathi Dalit writer, poet, and literary critic	Sanatan	Marathi	Novel
A leading voice in Marathi Dalit literature, best known for his autobiography "Akkarmashi" (translated as "The Outcaste") and the critical work "Towards an Aesthetics of Dalit Literature." He won the Saraswati Samman 2020 for his novel "Sanatan," which chronicles Dalit history and identity across generations; the award was announced in March 2021.
	2019	Vasdev Mohi Also won: Sahitya Akademi Award (1999)	Sindhi poet, short-story writer, translator, and critic	Chequebook	Sindhi	Short Stories
Born in Mirpur Khas (Sindh, now Pakistan) before migrating to India after Partition, he became a major modern Sindhi writer known for introducing new poetic forms and his short-story collections. He won the Saraswati Samman 2019 for his short-story collection "Chequebook," recognized for its innovative narrative style. He died in August 2021.
	2018	K. Siva Reddy Also won: Sahitya Akademi Award (1990)	Telugu poet and retired English lecturer	Pakkaki Ottigilite	Telugu	Poetry
Considered one of the most influential modern Telugu poets, K. Siva Reddy taught English for 35 years at Vivek Vardhini College, Hyderabad, while publishing acclaimed poetry collections such as "Mohana-O-Mohana." He won the Saraswati Samman 2018 for "Pakkaki Ottigilite," an anthology of 104 blank-verse poems published in 2016, praised for its stark imagery and social conscience.
	2017	Sitanshu Yashaschandra Also won: Sahitya Akademi Award (1987)	Gujarati poet, playwright, literary critic, translator, and academic	Vakhar	Gujarati	Poetry
A major modernist figure in Gujarati literature, known for poetry collections like "Odysseus nu Halesu" and "Jatayu," and plays including "Tokhar" and "Lady Lalkunwar." He won the Saraswati Samman 2017 for his poetry collection "Vakhar," praised for crossing conventional boundaries of language and creativity while engaging deeply with Gujarati and world literary traditions.
	2016	Mahabaleshwar Sail Also won: Sahitya Akademi Award (1993)	Konkani novelist and short-story writer	Hawthan	Konkani	Novel
A prominent Konkani-language novelist from Goa, known for works including "Kaali Ganga," "Yug Sanvar," and "Aranyakand," often exploring social change and marginalized communities. He won the Saraswati Samman 2016 for his novel "Hawthan," which portrays the struggles of traditional potters facing declining demand for their craft in a modernizing Goa.
	2015	Padma Sachdev Also won: Sahitya Akademi Award (1971)	Dogri poet and novelist	Chitt-Chete	Dogri	Autobiography
Regarded as the first modern woman poet of the Dogri language, she authored influential works including "Meri Kavita Mere Geet" and the acclaimed autobiography "Boond Bawadi." She won the Saraswati Samman 2015 for her autobiography "Chitt-Chete," written in Dogri and celebrated for its candid, lyrical account of her life. She died on 4 August 2021.
	2014	Veerappa Moily Also won: Sahitya Akademi Award (2020) , Moortidevi Award (2007)	Kannada writer/poet and politician (lawyer by training)	Ramayana Mahanveshanam	Kannada	Poetry
A prominent Indian politician who served as Chief Minister of Karnataka (1992-94) and as a Union Cabinet Minister (Law, Corporate Affairs, Petroleum & Natural Gas), he is also an accomplished Kannada litterateur. He won the Saraswati Samman 2014 for his five-volume, 42,295-line epic poem "Sri Ramayana Mahanveshanam," a modern reinterpretation of the Ramayana.
	2013	Govind Mishra Also won: Sahitya Akademi Award (2008) , Vyas Samman (1998)	Hindi novelist and former civil servant	Dhool Paudho Par	Hindi	Novel
A leading Hindi novelist and retired IRS officer who served as Chairperson of the Central Board of Direct Taxes until 1997. Known for novels such as "Lal Peeli Zameen" and "Paanch Aangan Wala Ghar," he explores middle-class Indian life with psychological depth. He won the Saraswati Samman 2013 for his novel "Dhool Paudho Par" (2008), becoming only the second Hindi author to receive it after Harivansh Rai Bachchan.
	2012	B. Sugathakumari	Malayalam poet, environmental and feminist activist	Manalezhuthu	Malayalam	Poetry Collection
A celebrated Malayalam poet renowned for lyrical, spiritually resonant verse and for pioneering environmental activism in Kerala, including founding the Prakruti Samrakshana Samithi. Her notable collections include "Raathrimazha," "Ambalamani," and "Pathirappookal." She won the Saraswati Samman 2012 for her poetry collection "Manalezhuthu." She died from COVID-19 complications in December 2020.
	2011	A. A. Manavalan	Tamil scholar, comparative literature specialist	Irama Kathaiyum Iramayakalum	Tamil	Research Book
A prominent Tamil scholar and professor at the University of Madras, celebrated for comparative literary research, especially on the Ramayana across languages and on Kambaramayanam. He authored numerous books, translated Aristotle's "Poetics" into Tamil, and wrote extensively in Tamil and English. He won the Saraswati Samman 2011 for "Irama Kathaiyum Iramayakalum," a comparative study of Ramayana versions across 48 languages.
	2010	Santeshivara Lingannaiah Bhyrappa Also won: Padma Bhushan (2023) , Sahitya Akademi Award (1975) , Pampa Award (2005)	Kannada novelist and philosopher	Mandra	Kannada	Novel
Among the most widely read Kannada novelists, known for philosophically rich, socially probing fiction such as "Vamshavruksha," "Parva," "Aavarana," and "Uttarakaanda," many adapted into acclaimed films. He authored 24 novels over five decades, exploring tradition, myth, and modernity. He received the Saraswati Samman 2010 for his novel "Mandra" (2001). He died in September 2025 at age 94.
	2009	Surjit Patar Also won: Sahitya Akademi Award (1993)	Punjabi poet and academic	Lafzan Di Dargah	Punjabi	Poetry
A leading Punjabi poet and former Professor of Punjabi at Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, whose accessible yet profound verse addressed love, exile, and social change. Key works include "Hawa Vich Likhe Harf" and "Birkh Arz Kare." He received the Saraswati Samman 2009 for his poetry collection "Lafzaan Di Dargah" (Shrine of Words). He also received the Padma Shri and died in May 2024, aged 79.
	2008	Lakshmi Nandan Bora Also won: Sahitya Akademi Award (1988)	Assamese novelist and short-story writer	Kayakalpa	Assamese	Novel
A prolific Assamese novelist who wrote over 60 books, including 29 novels, blending regional history with social themes; his novel "Gonga Silonir Pakhi" was translated into 11 languages and filmed. He also won the Sahitya Akademi Award for "Patal Bhairavi." He received the Saraswati Samman 2008 for his novel "Kayakalpa," later translated into 22 Indian languages. He died in June 2021, aged 89.
	2007	Naiyer Masud Also won: Sahitya Akademi Award (2001)	Urdu short-story writer and Persian scholar	Taoos Chaman Ki Myna	Urdu	Short stories collection
An acclaimed Urdu short-story writer and Professor of Persian at Lucknow University, celebrated for surreal, dreamlike narratives collected in works like "Ganjifa," "Simiya," and "Itr-e-kaafoor." His stories were translated into English as "Essence of Camphor" and "The Snake Catcher." He won the Saraswati Samman 2007 for his collection "Taoos Chaman Ki Myna," having earlier received the Sahitya Akademi Award for the same work in 2001.
	2006	Jagannath Prasad Das Also won: Sahitya Akademi Award (1991)	Odia poet, writer, playwright, and painter; former IAS officer	Parikrama	Odia	Poetry collection
A versatile Odia writer, poet, playwright, and art historian, and a former IAS officer, known for works like "Prathama Purusha," "Parikrama," and scholarship on Pattachitra painting. He received the Saraswati Samman 2006 for his poetry collection "Parikrama" (1998). He died in Bhubaneswar on 3 June 2026 at age 90, remembered as one of Odia literature's most respected figures.
	2005	K. Ayyappa Paniker Also won: Sahitya Akademi Award (1984) , Vayalar Award (2002) , Odakkuzhal Award (2001)	Malayalam poet, literary critic, and academic	Ayyappa Panikarude Kritikal	Malayalam	Poetry collection
A pioneering Malayalam poet and critic credited with introducing modernist and postmodernist sensibilities to Malayalam poetry, notably through "Kurukshethram" (1960), considered a turning point in the tradition. A distinguished scholar of Indian narratology and aesthetics, he received the Saraswati Samman 2005 for his anthology "Ayyappa Panikerude Kritikal," shortly before his death in August 2006.
	2004	Sunil Gangopadhyay Also won: Sahitya Akademi Award (1985)	Bengali novelist, poet, and journalist	Pratham Alo	Bengali	Novel
One of the most popular and prolific Bengali writers after Rabindranath Tagore, co-founding the influential poetry magazine "Krittibas" in 1953. Renowned for novels including "Sei Somoy," "Pratham Alo," and the "Kakababu" children's series, he wrote across poetry, fiction, and history. He won the Saraswati Samman 2004 for his historical novel "Pratham Alo" (First Light), depicting Bengal's cultural renaissance.
	2003	Govind Chandra Pande Also won: Moortidevi Award (2000)	Hindi/Sanskrit scholar, philosopher, and historian	Bhagirathi	Sanskrit	Poetry collection
A distinguished Indian scholar-philosopher specializing in Vedic, Buddhist, and Jaina thought, who served as vice-chancellor at multiple universities including Rajasthan and Allahabad. Author of works like "Life and Thought of Sankaracharya" and a Hindi commentary on the Rigveda, he blended rigorous scholarship with poetic composition. He received the Saraswati Samman 2003 for "Bhagirathi," and later the Padma Shri in 2010.
	2002	Mahesh Elkunchwar Also won: Sahitya Akademi Award (2002)	Marathi playwright and screenwriter	Yugant	Marathi	Play
A major Marathi playwright whose works, including the trilogy "Wada Chirebandi," "Magna Talyakathi," and "Yugant," alongside plays like "Party" and "Sonata," probe family, feudal decline, and modern alienation with psychological realism. Also a noted screenwriter for filmmakers like Govind Nihalani, he received the Saraswati Samman 2002 for his play "Yugant," recognizing his profound influence on modern Indian theatre.
	2001	Dalip Kaur Tiwana Also won: Sahitya Akademi Award (1971)	Punjabi novelist and short-story writer; academic	Katha Kaho Urvashi	Punjabi	Novel
A prolific Punjabi novelist and Dean at Punjabi University, Patiala, known for over 25 novels exploring rural Punjabi women's lives, tradition, and identity, including "Eho Hamara Jeevna" and "Peele Patian Di Dastan." She won the 2001 Saraswati Samman for her novel "Katha Kaho Urvashi." She also received the Sahitya Akademi Award, Padma Shri, and Padma Bhushan, and served as a nominated Rajya Sabha member.
	2000	Manoj Das Also won: Padma Bhushan (2020) , Sahitya Akademi Award (1972)	Odia and English writer; essayist; professor of English literature	Amruta Phala	Odia	Novel
A bilingual Odia-English writer and long-time professor at Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Puducherry, celebrated for short stories, novels, and children's fiction blending realism with folklore. Works include "A Tiger at Twilight" and "Cyclones." He won the 2000 Saraswati Samman for his Odia novel "Amruta Phala." He also received the Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, and a Sahitya Akademi Fellowship.
	1999	Indira Parthasarathy Also won: Sahitya Akademi Award (1977)	Tamil playwright, novelist, and academic	Ramanujar	Tamil	Play
A Tamil playwright, novelist, and former Delhi University professor (real name R. Parthasarathy), known for historically grounded, socially engaged works including the Sahitya Akademi Award-winning novel "Kuruthipunal" and plays "Aurangzeb" and "Nandan Kathai." He won the 1999 Saraswati Samman for his play "Ramanujar," on the philosopher-saint Ramanuja, and remains a major modernist voice in Tamil letters.
	1998	Shankha Ghosh Also won: Sahitya Akademi Award (1977) , Jnanpith Award (2016)	Poet and literary critic	Gandharba Kabita Guccha	Bengali	Poetry collection
Bengali poet Shankha Ghosh has been chosen for the prestigious 52nd Jnanpith Award for 2016. Ghosh has penned several poems including ‘Adim lata-gulmomay’, ‘Murkha baro, samajik nay’, ‘Kabir abhipray’, ‘Mukh dheke jay bigyapane’ and ‘Babarer prarthana’, that went on to become classic creations.
	1997	Manubhai Rajaram Pancholi Also won: Padma Bhushan (1991) , Sahitya Akademi Award (1975) , Moortidevi Award (1987)	Gujarati novelist, essayist, and educationist (pen name "Darshak")	Kurukshetra	Gujarati	Novel
A Gujarati novelist, freedom fighter, and educationist who co-founded the Lok Bharati rural institute in Sanosara. Writing as "Darshak," he authored major historical novels including "Jher To Pidha Chhe Jani Jani" and "Kurukshetra," a philosophical retelling of the Mahabharata. He won the 1997 Saraswati Samman for "Kurukshetra." He also received the Ranjitram Suvarna Chandrak and Sahitya Akademi Award.
	1996	Shamsur Rahman Faruqi Also won: Sahitya Akademi Award (1986)	Urdu critic, poet, novelist, and literary theorist	She`r-e Shor-Angez	Urdu	Literary criticism
Widely regarded as the pre-eminent Urdu literary scholar of his generation, Faruqi founded the influential journal "Shabkhoon" and wrote the landmark four-volume critical study "Sher-e-Shor-Angez" on poet Mir Taqi Mir, plus novels including "The Mirror of Beauty." He won the 1996 Saraswati Samman for "Sher-e-Shor-Angez." He also received the Padma Shri and Sahitya Akademi Award.
	1995	Nalapat Balamani Amma Also won: Padma Bhushan (1987) , Sahitya Akademi Award (1965) , Ezhuthachan Puraskaram (1995)	Malayalam poet	Nivedyam	Malayalam	Poetry collection
A pioneering Malayalam poet, mother of writer Kamala Das, celebrated for verse centered on motherhood, domesticity, and womanhood, including collections "Amma" and "Muthassi." She won the 1995 Saraswati Samman for her poetry collection "Nivedyam." She also received the Sahitya Akademi Award, Padma Bhushan, and multiple honorary doctorates, and was a revered elder figure in Kerala's literary community until her death at age 95.
	1994	Harbhajan Singh Also won: Sahitya Akademi Award (1969)	Punjabi poet, critic, and translator; academic	Rukh Te Rishi	Punjabi	Poetry collection
A Punjabi poet and Delhi University academic known for blending mysticism and modernism in his verse, publishing seventeen poetry collections alongside literary criticism and translations of Aristotle, Sophocles, and Tagore. He won the 1994 Saraswati Samman for his poetry collection "Rukh Te Rishi." He also received the Sahitya Akademi Award and Padma Shri for his contributions to Punjabi literature.
	1993	Vijay Dhondopant Tendulkar Also won: Padma Bhushan (1984)	Marathi playwright, screenwriter, and essayist	Kanyadaan	Marathi	Play
An influential Marathi playwright whose provocative dramas confronted violence, sexuality, and social hypocrisy, notably "Ghashiram Kotwal" and "Sakharam Binder"; he also wrote screenplays for films including "Nishant" and "Manthan." He won the 1993 Saraswati Samman for his play "Kanyadaan." He also received the Padma Bhushan and Sahitya Akademi Award, and died in Pune in 2008.
	1992	Ramakanta Rath Also won: Padma Bhushan (2006) , Sahitya Akademi Award (1978)	Odia poet; retired IAS civil servant	Sri Radha	Odia	Poetry
A distinguished Odia poet and former civil servant, celebrated for modernist verse exploring love, myth, and spirituality, notably his reworking of the Radha-Krishna theme. Major works include "Sri Radha," "Saptama Ritu," and "Sri Palataka." He won the 1992 Saraswati Samman for his poetry collection "Sri Radha." He also received the Sahitya Akademi Award and Padma Shri, and died aged 91 in March 2025.
	1991	Dr. Harivansh Rai Bachchan Also won: Padma Bhushan (1976) , Sahitya Akademi Award (1968)	Hindi poet (Nayi Kavita movement) and writer	Autobiography in four volumes	Hindi	Autobiography
A celebrated Hindi poet best known for "Madhushala" and "Agneepath," and father of actor Amitabh Bachchan. He won the inaugural 1991 Saraswati Samman, the award's very first recipient, for his acclaimed four-volume autobiography beginning with "Kya Bhooloon Kya Yaad Karoon." He also received the Padma Bhushan (1976) and Sahitya Akademi honors, and died in Mumbai in January 2003.