Shyam Sundar Besra, chief inspector of ticket working in Asansol Division of the Eastern Railway, was conferred the coveted Sahitya Akademi Award, the railways said.
He was awarded for his novel 'Marom' which is based on the natural, social, economic and political conditions in Santhal Pargana, it said in a statement.
The novel in Santhali highlights the situation that emerged after two main industrial developments in the Santhal area in the wake of Independence -- Masanjore Dam at Dumka and a railway locomotive workshop at Chittaranjan.
Two of his creative works "Dullar Khatir" and "Damin Riya (udas) Kahani Ko" are part of the post-graduate course syllabus in Sidhu Kanhu University.
Besra writes under the name of G B Rarek in Santhali and in name of Santhal Praganvi in Hindi.