The Indian embassy in Doha has announced details of the Presidential Award of Certificate of Honour to Sanskrit, classical Oriya, classical Kannada, classical Telugu and classical Malayalam scholars.
Under the scheme, one International Award of Certificate of Honour is given to a non-resident Indian or person of non-Indian origin with outstanding contributions in the field of Sanskrit, along with two International Awards - one each for person of Indian and non-Indian origin - in each of the languages of classical Oriya, classical Kannada, classical Telugu and classical Malayalam, the embassy has said in a statement.
The scheme also provides the Maharshi Badrayan Vyas Samman for young scholars in the age group of 30-45 years in the field of Sanskrit, Pali/Prakrit, Arabic and Persian, with an award amount of Rs100,000 as onetime payment to each awardee along with a sanad and shawl presented by the Indian President.
The statement explained that a Certificate of Honour is conferred by the President of India to distinguished scholars of Sanskrit, Arabic and Persian languages since 1958, which was later extended to cover Pali/Prakrit, classical Oriya, classical Kannada, classical Telugu and classical Malayalam. Under the scheme, a Certificate of Honour, along with a onetime monetary grant of Rs500,000 each, is awarded to scholars of eminence over 60 years of age with outstanding contribution in the field of these languages.
From 2016, it was decided to give separate awards to scholars of Pali and Prakrit (one each) both under the category of Certificate of Honour and Maharshi Badrayan Vyas Samman.
All those who have to their credit extraordinary works in the classical languages indicated should fill in their details in the proforma available on the embassy’s website and submit the same to the mission along with a maximum of five published works. A detailed list of all published works is also to be provided.
These awards are not given to scholars who have received this award earlier, not given posthumously, or not given to persons who have been convicted by a court in a criminal case or against whom any criminal case is pending in a court, the statement adds.