The noted Tamil writer Dr A.A Manavalan has been conferred on the 21st Saraswati Samman for the year 2011 at a function in New Delhi today. The award was given to him by the Corporate Affairs Minister Mr M. Veerappa Moily for his book 'Irama Kathaiyum Iramayakalyum' published in 2005. Our correspondent reports that the award-winning book is a comparative study of 48 Ramayanas in the languages including Pali, Sanskrit, Prakrit, , Tamil, Telugu and Assamese. The Saraswati Samman carries a cash award of 7.5 lakh rupees and a citation.