Renowned English writer Amitav Ghosh has been honoured with 2018 Jnanpith Award, a literary award given to an author for outstanding contribution towards literature.
“Amitav Ghosh is a path-breaking novelist. In his novels, Ghosh treads through historical settings to the modern era and weaves a space where the past connects with the present in relevant ways,” the statement from Bharatiya Jnanpith read.
The writer, known for his novels ‘The Shadow Lines’ and ‘Sea of Poppies (The Ibis trilogy)’ posted on Twitter, ” Thank you. This is an amazing day for me. I never thought I would find myself on this list, with some of the writers I most admire.”
Thank you. This is an amazing day for me. I never thought I would find myself on this list, with some of the writers I most admire https://t.co/xKUXfSH8hp https://t.co/qnGtM0E4Au
— Amitav Ghosh (@GhoshAmitav) December 14, 2018
Previously he has also been shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize in the years 2008 and 2012 for his books his books ‘Sea of Poppies’ and ‘River of Smoke’, respectively.
The 62-year-old author, who currently lives in New York with his wife Deborah Baker was also awarded the Padma Shri in 2007.
His most recent book, The Great Derangement; Climate Change and the Unthinkable, a work of non-fiction, was released in 2016.