Sarpay Beikman Manuscript Awards

The Sarpay Beikman Manuscript Awards (Burmese: စာပေဗိမာန် စာပဒေသာ ဆုများ) are annual literary awards given in Burma by the Sarpay Beikman (Palace of Literature), a department of the Ministry of Information. They are awarded for unpublished manuscripts in various fiction and non-fiction categories. Sarpay Beikman publishes the winning entries, as well as giving a financial prize. The awards complement the Burma National Literature Award and the privately sponsored Sayawun Tin Shwe Award, Pakokku U Ohn Pe literary award, Thuta Swesone literary award and Tun Foundation award.

The Burmese Translation Society began to present the Sarpay Beikman Awards (K. 1000) in 1949. They were renamed the Literary Fine Art Awards in 1962 and the National Literary Awards in 1965. The awards were presented to authors who submitted manuscripts in categories such novel, translation, general literature, general knowledge, short story, poems, and dramas. The prizes were awarded annually, and the manuscripts published. Entries had to comply with five general principles: the works must support or at least agree with the ruling party aims, foster Burmese culture, promote patriotism, help build character and advance ideas and contribute useful knowledge. A first, second and third prize was awarded in each category where there were suitable entries, which was not always the case.

From 1970 a new system was started. Unpublished works were submitted in competition for the Sarpay Beikman Manuscript Awards. However, the National Literary Awards, one per category, were selected from books that had been published in the previous year. Although 12 awards could be given, the selection committee usually chose fewer, since it is often not possible to find a publication that meets the guidelines, particularly in the "novel" category. In recent years the genres covered by Sarpay Beikman Manuscript and National Literary Awards have been gradually extended and the amount of awards increased. Relatively few translators are honored. In 2008 no translation prize was given at all. This may in part be due to financial constraints, in part to censorship and interference in what is translated by the military regime.

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