Background

This Award carries the memory of Moortidevi, mother of Late Sahu Shanti Prasad Jain, founder of Bharatiya Jnanpith. This Award is presented for a contemplative or intellectual work, which underlines and expresses Indian philosophy and cultural heritage based on wider ideals and human values. It is conferred on the litterateur who is alive.

The Process of selection

Nomination forms are invited from hundreds of scholars, thinkers and writers of different languages. These forms are presented before the selection board, which is authorised to include any more names to the list. The writer is awarded an amount of Rupees two Lakh, a citation plaque, a Saraswati Statue, a srifal and a shawl.

The Persons who have given their cooperation as a member of selection Board in the past are :

Shri Jainendra Kumar, Shri Gangasaran Singh, Shri Akshay Kumar Jain, Dr. Laxmimall Singhavi, Siddhantachaya Pt. Kailash Chandra Shastri, Dr. Lokesh Chandra, Sahu Shriyans Prasad Jain, Dr. Nemi Chandra Jain, Shri Ashok Kumar Jain, Shri Laxmi Chandra Jain (ex-officio), Prof. Dayakrishna, Dr. Panduranga Rao (ex-officio), Dr. C.R. Swaminathan, Dr. Nirmala Jain and Shri Dinesh Misra (ex-officio). Dr. Kapila Vatsyayan (Chairman), Dr. Ramdarash Mishra, Dr. Jagannath Prasad Das, Shri Ramesh Chandra, Dr. Prabhakar Shrotriya (Ex-officio)Nomination forms are invited from hundreds of scholars, thinkers and writers of different languages. These forms are presented before the selection board, which is authorised to include any more names to the list. The writer is awarded an amount of Rupees two Lakh, a citation plaque, a Saraswati Statue, a srifal and a shawl.

Present Selection Board

1. Shri T. N. Chaturvedi (Chairman)
2. Prof. K. Sachchidanandan
3. Prof. Satyavrat Shastri
4. Shri Kamal Sogani
5. Dr. Pratibha Ray
6. Prof. Vrishabha Prasad Jain
7. Sahu Akhilesh Jain
8. Shri Ravindra Kalia (Ex- officio)