Mahasweta Devi is not the first

A photograph was published in The Daily Star (Dec 20), where noted Indian writer Mahasweta Devi was showing the medal of the French award 'Officer Des Arts et des Lettres' that she was just awarded.

The Daily Star mentioned that she was "the first Indian author to receive the award which is one of the highest and most prestigious French civilian awards." To put the record straight, another noted author, Dr. Lokenath Bhattacharya, received the same award in 1991.