The Arts and Culture Department in Puducherry started the Kamban Pugazh Literary Prize program. This program’s goals are to give out ten awards and prizes of ₹10,000 to writers of Tamil novels, short stories, plays, poetry, and prose. Applications are sent in offline using the format specified. It is distributed in the Art and Culture Department Director’s office.
Benefits
- Financial Assistance: ₹10,000/- per recipient.
- Number of Awards: 10 per year.
Eligibility
- Residency Requirements: The applicant must be a native of Puducherry either by birth or with continuous residence for at least five years.
- Publication Criteria: The work must be a first edition published between 1st January and 31st December of the previous year.
- The book must be creative literature in Tamil, including novels, short stories, drama, poetry, or prose.
- Restrictions:
- Translations, abridged versions, imitations, or synopses are not eligible.
- Theses or research works submitted for university degrees are excluded.
- Authors who have received this award are ineligible to participate for the next four consecutive years.
- Works that have already received awards from other government or private organizations are not eligible.
Application Process
Offline Steps:
- Obtain the Application Form: Download the form from the official website or collect it from the Director of Art and Culture Department.
- Complete the Application: Fill in all mandatory fields, attach a passport-sized photograph, and provide the required documents.
- Submit the Application:
- Send the completed form and documents to:
Director of Art and Culture Department,
No.1, Roman Roland Road, Puducherry – 605 001.
- Send the completed form and documents to:
- Request Acknowledgment: Obtain a receipt with submission details, including the date, time, and application number.
Documents Required
- Passport-size Photograph.
- Residence Certificate.
- Birth Certificate.
- Published Book (from the previous year).
- Any other relevant documents, if required.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the Literary Prize for Kamban Pugazh?
The Puducherry government launched this deserving reward program to promote outstanding works of prose, poetry, drama, short stories, and novels in Tamil literature.
2. Who is eligible to apply?
Puducherry native authors whose works qualify and who have lived here consistently for at least five years.
3. What kinds of literature are taken into account?
Poetry, prose, drama, short stories, novels, and other creative works in Tamil will all be taken into consideration.
4. What are the acceptable publication dates?
Only works released between January 1st and December 31st of the prior year will qualify.
5. Are abridgments or translations acceptable?
No, summary, abbreviated, or translation.
6. To whom should the filled-out application form be sent?
At the specified address, the form must be delivered to the Director of the Art and Culture Department in Puducherry.
7. How is the process of selecting carried out?
To evaluate the submitted works, the department has assembled a team of literary specialists.
8. Are previously awarded works eligible for an allowance?
No, since works that have received honors from other public or private institutions are prohibited.
9. When are writers notified that their work is due?
Eligible authors are required to submit their books by January 31st, and an advertisement is released during the first week of January.
10. Are past winners eligible to reapply?
After receiving the prize, previous winners are not eligible to apply for four years in a row.