Indira Goswami the famous editor poet scholar and writer won the Jnanpith Award for outstanding work in which Indian language?

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: Assamese

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
The Jnanpith Award is one of India's highest literary honours, given to authors for outstanding contribution to literature in one of the recognised Indian languages. Indira Goswami, also known by her pen name Mamoni Raisom Goswami, was a prominent editor, poet, scholar, and novelist from Assam. This question asks in which language she received the Jnanpith Award. The correct answer is Assamese, the language in which most of her celebrated literary works were written.


Given Data / Assumptions:
- The author mentioned is Indira Goswami, a noted literary figure. - The award referred to is the Jnanpith Award. - The options list major Indian languages including Bengali, Odia, Assamese, Hindi, and Gujarati. - Only one of these languages is associated with Indira Goswami's main body of work.


Concept / Approach:
To answer the question, aspirants should connect Indira Goswami with her regional and linguistic background. She was from Assam and wrote primarily in Assamese, gaining recognition for novels and stories that explore social, political, and spiritual themes in Assamese society. The Jnanpith Award she received is therefore counted under the Assamese language category. While it is possible that translations of her work exist in many languages, Jnanpith recognises the original language of composition, which in this case is Assamese and not Bengali, Hindi, or other listed options.


Step-by-Step Solution:
1. Identify Indira Goswami as a writer associated with the state of Assam. 2. Recall that she produced important literary works like The Moth Eaten Howdah of the Tusker and Pages Stained With Blood, originally written in Assamese. 3. Recognise that the Jnanpith Award is conferred based on contributions to a specific Indian language. 4. Look at the options and identify Assamese as the language that matches her primary literary output. 5. Select Assamese as the correct answer and reject the remaining options.


Verification / Alternative check:
A learner can verify this by recalling that lists of Jnanpith winners often mention the language in brackets after the winner's name. For Indira Goswami, the language indicated is Assamese. Furthermore, articles about her life and work emphasise her role in literature from Assam and her exploration of Assamese society and traditions. These repeated references to her Assamese background and writing confirm that she received the Jnanpith Award in Assamese and not in any of the other languages given in the options.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Bengali is a major literary language in India, but it is not the primary language of Indira Goswami's literary contributions. Odia is another important language with its own Jnanpith laureates, yet Indira Goswami was not one of them for this language. Hindi has many renowned authors who have received the Jnanpith Award, but Indira Goswami is associated with Assamese literature instead. Gujarati, though culturally rich, is not connected to Indira Goswami's major works or her Jnanpith recognition.


Common Pitfalls:
Because some of Indira Goswami's works are available in translation and are read across India, students may mistakenly associate her with more widely used languages such as Hindi or Bengali. Another pitfall is confusing her with other Jnanpith awardees from neighbouring linguistic regions. To prevent these errors, candidates should always link each Jnanpith laureate with their home language and region, for example, Indira Goswami with Assamese, and revise such associations regularly.


Final Answer:
Indira Goswami received the Jnanpith Award for her contribution to literature in the Assamese language.

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