Guwahati: Acclaimed Assamese poet Nilmani Phookan was awarded the country’s highest literary honor- Jnanpith Award on Tuesday.
Phookan, is considered one of the pioneers of modern Assamese poetry, has been chosen for the highest Indian literary award along with Konkani writer Damodar Mauzo.
Born in 1933 at Dergaon in upper Assam’s Golaghat district, Phookan did his post-graduation in History in 1961 from Guwahati University.
He is known for his simplistic representation in the genre of Assamese poetry.
Phookan is the third Assamese to win the prestigious award. Before him, Birendra Kumar Bhattacharya and Indira Goswami were conferred with the literary award.