Selecting the most outstanding literary work or writer from multiple languages for the Jnanpith Award is a challenging task. Initially, the focus was on selecting the best work for the first seventeen awards. However, since the eighteenth award, the revised rule shifted to recognizing the writer. The complexity of the selection process becomes even more pronounced when dealing with many languages, raising concerns about objectivity and fairness. With over fifteen languages considered, forming a team of scholars proficient in multiple languages is no easy feat.
Despite these challenges, experience has shown that objective and fair-minded efforts can yield remarkable results. The selection process begins with proposals submitted by literary figures, teachers, critics, and discerning readers. These proposals also come from various universities, literary and language associations, and similar organizations. According to the award rules, a language that has received the award is excluded from consideration for the next two years, meaning two languages are always ineligible each year.
Each language has an Advisory Committee composed of three eminent literary critics and scholars. These committees, reconstituted every three years, review the submissions. However, they are not restricted to these proposals; they may also consider other writers who have made significant contributions to the language. The committee evaluates an author's entire body of work and considers its relevance in the context of contemporary literature.
Since the eighteenth award, the rules have been revised to evaluate the entire literary contribution of an author to Indian literature. From the 49th Jnanpith Award onwards, English was included alongside other Indian languages for consideration, but the award remains open only to Indian citizens.
Selection Process
The recommendations from various Language Advisory Committees are reviewed by a Selection Board, consisting of between seven and eleven members of high repute and integrity. Initially, the Bharatiya Jnanpith Trust formed the Selection Board. However, subsequent vacancies are filled based on the recommendations of the Board itself. Each member serves a three-year term and may continue for two additional terms. Over the years, many distinguished scholars and writers have served as chairmen or members of the Selection Board.
Past Chairmen and Members of the Selection Board
The Selection Board has included numerous notable individuals over the years. Below is a list of some of the prominent chairmen and members:
- Dr. Sampurnanand (Chairman)
- Kaka Kalelker
- Dr. Nihar Ranjan Ray (Chairman)
- Dr. V. Gopal Reddy (Chairman)
- Dr. Karan Singh (Chairman)
- Dr. Harekrishan Mahatab
- Dr. V. Raghavan
- Smt. Rama Jain
- Shri Lakshmi Chandra Jain (Ex-officio)
- Dr. Ranganath R. Diwakar
- Dr. K.G. Saiyidain
- Shri G.S. Kurup
- Dr. Adityanath Jha
- Dr. Bezwada G. Reddy (Chairman)
- Dr. Hazari Prasad Dwivedi
- Dr. Umashankar Joshi (Chairman)
- Dr. Vinayak K. Gokak (Chairman)
- Shri Jagadish C. Mathur
- Dr. Debi P. Pattanayak
- Prof. M.V. Rajadhyaksha
- Dr. M. Varadarajan
- Shri B.K. Rao
- Prof. Jayalal Kaul
- Dr. R.K. Dasgupta
- Dr. Masud Husain
- Shri Shanti Prasad Jain
- Dr. Maheswara Neog
- Dr. Narayana Menon
- Smt. Durga Jain
- Dr. Devendra Nath Sharma
- Shri Sitakant Mahapatra
- Shri Anantrai M. Rawal
- Prof. Gurbachan S. Talib
- Shri K.B. Jagannathan
- Shri P.V. Narasimha Rao (Chairman)
- Shri Gulabdas Broker
- Shri Hayatullah Ansari
- Dr. H.M. Nayak
- Prof. V.I. Subramoniam
- Prof. Sisir Kumar Das
- Dr. (Mrs.) V. Rajadhyaksha
- Prof. G.N. Reddy
- Prof. S.C. Dube
- Smt. Alka Jalan
- Prof. Vidya Niwas Mishra
- Dr. B.K. Bhattacharya
- Dr. Prabhakar Machwe
- Dr. Nabaneeta Dev Sen
- Dr. K.M. George
- Dr. I. Panduranga Rao (Ex-officio)
- Prof. Shantinath K. Desai
- Smt. Amrita Pritam
- Ms. Qurratulain Hyder
- Prof. Namwar Singh
- Prof. P.L. Gadgil
- Prof. Dinesh Misra (Ex-officio)
- Dr. L.M. Singhvi (Chairman)
- Prof. U.R. Anantha Murthy
- Shri M.T. Vasudevan Nair
- Smt. Mahasveta Devi
- Shri Ashok Vajpeyi
- Prof. C.T. Indra
- Dr. Sitanshu Yashaschandra
- Dr. Motilal Jotwani
- Prof. Vidya Niwas Mishra
- Shri Ramakant Rath
- Dr. Prabhakar Shrotriya (Ex-officio)
- Dr. K. Satchidanandan
- Shri Gurdial Singh
- Shri Keshubhai Desai
- Shri Manager Pandey
- Dr. Gopi Chand Narang
- Dr. Sitakant Mahapatra (Chairman)
- Amiya Deb
- Shri Shankar Sarda
- Prof. Dinesh Singh
- Shri Nityanand Tiwari
- Shri R. Shourie Rajan
