J&K Academy of Art, Culture & Languages (JKAACL) today announced the Best Book Award-2016, carrying a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh, a citation, a memento and a shawl each, in various languages spoken in the State.The announcement of the award was made by Secretary JKAACL, Dr Aziz Hajini here today, after the recommendation of adjudicators was approved by the President of the Academy (Chief Minister).Announcing the winners of the coveted literary award, Hajini said that the award in Dogri language goes to Pooran Chand Bargotra for Shabd Shabd Sarmath, in Kashmiri the award has been given to Makhan Lal Pandita and Satish Vimal on share basis for their works Saz Bonen Hund and Siyah Var, in Urdu to Hamdam Kashmiri for Waraq Sada, in Pahari to Abdul Rashid Qureshi for his book Likhtaan Payaar Diyaan, in Gojri to Taj ud Taj for Khaab Saloona, in Ladakhi to Khanpo KonchokThupstan for Daton Jon Nui Gulrgyan, in Punjabi to Divender Vishwanagrik for Shabd Shabd Zindagi, in Hindi to Sanjeev Baseen for Kab Subah Hogi and in Sheena to Ahmad Jawan for Bizoon.Pertinent to mention here that for Best Book Award 2016 the Academy has adopted the pattern of National Akademi of Letters (Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi).“From the award for the year 2016 we have started giving book awards as per Sahitya Akademi New Delhi pattern under which prize money of Rs 1 lakh will be given for main award while as Rs 50,000 will be given for the translation award,” Dr Hajini said.While congratulating the winners, Hajini said the process of performing, visual and plastic art awards is also underway. “The awards are likely to be announced soon,” he said.