NAMAKKAL: Tamil writer Perumal Murugan, recently honored with the Man Bahadur Singh Lahak Award for 2026, has called on the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam government to institute a dedicated Sahitya Akademi Award exclusively for Tamil literature. Speaking to reporters in Namakkal on Monday, Murugan emphasized that while the national Sahitya Akademi Award continues to honor writers across India, Tamil Nadu should take the initiative to recognize its own literary voices with a state-level distinction.
Advocacy for Translators
Murugan, whose novels Madhorubagan and Poonachi have been translated into multiple Indian and foreign languages, urged the government to increase remuneration for translators who make Tamil works available in other languages. He stated, “Writers and translators should not face reduced benefits as in the past. Instead, their support must be strengthened to ensure that Tamil literature reaches wider audiences.”
Background and Achievements
Murugan served as the principal of Namakkal’s Arignar Anna Government Arts College before opting for voluntary retirement in 2022. His novel Pyre, the English translation of Pūkkuḻi, was longlisted for the International Booker Prize in 2023. The same year, the English translation of his novel Aalandapatchi (Fire Bird) won the JCB Prize for Literature.
Murugan’s call comes as part of a broader push to enhance support for Tamil literature, ensuring that both writers and translators receive adequate recognition and financial backing. He stressed the importance of preserving and promoting Tamil literary heritage through dedicated state-level awards and improved translator compensation.
