In first, the Jnanpith Award Presentation Ceremony was held in Assam to confer the award to the renowned Assamese poet Nilamani Phookan.<br />''<br />''Assam Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma presented the country's highest literary award, the 56th Jnanpith for the year 2021 to one of the most celebrated poet of Assam, Nilamani Phookan in presence of Dr. Pratibha Ray, Chairperson of Jnanpith Award Selection Board, who is also a recipient of Jnanpith Award in 2011,  Ministers of Assam Government Ranojit Pegu, Bimal Borah and other distinguished guests.<br />''<br />''It is a happy and proud moment for the people of the state as the poet Phookan's achievement satisfied all the Assamese people, said Assam Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma while presenting the Jnanpith Award. The Chief Minister also said that it is a proud moment for him to present the highest literary award in the country.<br />''<br />''Dr. Sarma informed that his government wants to translate and publish  Nilamani Phookan's literary works in all Indian languages if the poet's family members allow it.<br />''<br />''It may be recalled that Nilmani Phookan is the third person to win the Jnanpith Award from Assam. The octogenarian was awarded the Padma Shri in 1990 and received the Sahitya Akademi Fellowship in 2002. He was selected as an 'Emeritus Fellow' for a period of two years by Cultural Department, Govt. of India in 1998. Assam Sahitya Sabha also conferred 'Sahityacharya' honour to him.<br />''<br />''Before Nilamani Phookan, Mamoni Roisom Goswami and Birendra Kumar Bhattacharya had won the Jnanpith Award and both of them had accepted the award in Delhi.<br />''<br />''The notable works of Phukan are 'Xurjya Henu Naami Aahe Ei Nodiyedi', 'Kabita' and 'Gulapi Jamur Lagna'.<br />''<br />''The Award carried a Citation, a shawl, and Rs. 11 lakh. <br />''<br />