Category: Awards

Awards

Eminent Writers Mamta Kalia and Arambam Ongbi Memchoubi to Receive Amar Ujala Shabd Samman ‘Akashdeep’ Award 2025

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Written by Intern Rency Gomes || Team Allycaral 

New Delhi, January 15, 2026:
For their exceptional contribution to India’s literary landscape, Amar Ujala’s highest literary honour under the Shabd Samman 2025 — the ‘Akashdeep’ Award — will be conferred on eminent Hindi short-story writer Mamta Kalia in the Hindi category, and on renowned Manipuri author Arambam Ongbi Memchoubi in the non-Hindi Indian languages category.


The year holds special significance as 2025 marks the Golden Jubilee of the United Nations’ International Women’s Year, while 2026 has been dedicated by the UN to women’s contributions to agriculture. In this context, honouring two distinguished women writers lends a special distinction to this year’s Akashdeep Award.

Each recipient of the Akashdeep Award will receive a cash prize of ₹5,00,000, along with a citation and a Ganga sculpture as a symbolic honour.

About the Awardees

Arambam Ongbi Memchoubi, born as Dr. Thounaojam Chanu Ibemhal on January 1, 1957, has made an exceptional contribution to Manipuri literature through her prolific writing focused on postcolonial thought, women’s identity, and Meitei myths. She is regarded as one of the most powerful voices in contemporary Manipuri literature.

Mamta Kalia, born on November 2, 1940, is a pioneering figure in modern Hindi literature. Emerging during the early waves of feminism, she has authored more than a dozen notable works and is widely recognised for her nuanced portrayal of middle-class complexities and women’s struggles for identity.

Under the Akashdeep honour, several Indian languages — including Kannada, Marathi, Bengali, Odia, Malayalam and Gujarati — have been recognised in previous years. Manipuri has been selected for the first time this year. Past recipients include Girish Karnad, Bhalchandra Nemade, Shankha Ghosh, Pratibha Ray, M.T. Vasudevan Nair and Sitanshu Yashaschandra among non-Hindi languages, and Namvar Singh, Gyanranjan, Vishwanath Tripathi, Shekhar Joshi, Vinod Kumar Shukla and Govind Mishra in Hindi.

Best Work Awards – Shabd Samman 2025

Alongside the Akashdeep Award, Amar Ujala has also announced the Best Hindi Literary Works of 2024, honouring excellence across categories:

‘Chhap’ (Poetry): Vaasna Ek Nadi Ka Naam Hai by Savita Singh

Non-Fiction: Mutah by Naish Hasan

Fiction: Curfew Ki Raat by Shahadat

Bhasha-Bandhu Translation Award: Sujata Shiven for the Hindi translation of Charu Chivar aur Charya (original Odia work by Pradeep Dash)

‘Thaap’ Award (First Book): Sudhaargrih Ki Malikainen by Manish Yadav

Each Best Work Award includes a cash prize of ₹1,00,000, a citation, and a Ganga sculpture.

Jury & Vision

The awards were adjudicated by a distinguished jury comprising poet Varsha Das, writer Vibhuti Narayan Rai, storyteller Dhirendra Asthana, writer-translator Damodar Khadse, and short-story writer Balram.

Yashwant Vyas, Group Advisor at Amar Ujala and Convener of the Shabd Samman, stated that the initiative was launched in 2018 to realise the collective dream of strengthening and celebrating Indian languages and literary collaboration.

The Amar Ujala Shabd Samman 2025 will be presented at a formal ceremony to be held soon.

Awards

GCCI & KDNMT Announce Pride of Goa Awards 2025

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The Goa Chamber of Commerce & Industry (GCCI) in collaboration with the Kashinath Damodar Naik Memorial Trust (KDNMT) has announced the recipients of the Pride of Goa Awards 2025. Instituted to celebrate Goans who have made significant contributions to business and industry, the awards honour both legacy and innovation in leadership.

For 2025, two distinguished personalities have been selected:

  • Lifetime Achievement Award: Ms. Anju Timblo, Managing Director & CEO of Fomento Resorts and Hotels Pvt. Ltd. A trailblazer in Goa’s hospitality sector, Ms. Timblo has led iconic establishments like Taj Cidade de Goa Heritage and Taj Cidade de Goa Horizon. Her contributions extend to education, culture, and community development through initiatives such as the Fomento Education and Charitable Societies.
  • Entrepreneur Award: Mr. Sachin Lawande, President & CEO of Visteon Corporation. Hailing from Taleigao, Mr. Lawande is among the few Goans to achieve global recognition in the corporate world. Under his leadership, Visteon has transformed automotive technology, driving innovations in hybrid and electric powertrains while partnering with leading automakers worldwide.

The Pride of Goa Awards Ceremony is scheduled for December 2025 at Gomant Vidya Niketan, Margao, with eminent journalist Mr. Vikram Doctor as the keynote speaker.

The awards, instituted in memory of Late Kashinath Damodar Naik—a renowned businessman, historian, and philanthropist—seek to spotlight the achievements of Goans who embody excellence and inspire future generations.

👉 Stay connected with Allycaral for more updates on the Pride of Goa Awards 2025.

Awards

Screen Awards 2025: A Cultural Milestone Goes Digital-First with YouTube

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The Indian Express Group has announced a groundbreaking transformation of one of India’s most iconic film award shows — Screen Awards 2025. This year, the awards take a digital-first leap, streaming exclusively on YouTube to bring together the grandeur of Bollywood with the dynamism of digital creators.

Backed by the editorial credibility of the Indian Express Group and chosen by the Screen Academy, an independent body of acclaimed filmmakers and artists, Screen Awards 2025 promises recognition based on merit and integrity.

📌 Why It’s Historic:

  • First time Screen Awards will be fully digital-first, streamed worldwide on YouTube.
  • Bollywood superstars will share the spotlight with YouTube creators, symbolizing the convergence of cinema and new-age storytelling.
  • A 3-month-long cultural festival featuring red carpet events, behind-the-scenes coverage, creator-led content, and fan engagement.

📌 Industry Voices:

  • Anant Goenka, Executive Director, Indian Express Group, emphasized that the awards aim to celebrate creativity beyond box-office numbers, spotlighting India’s most original voices.
  • Gunjan Soni, MD YouTube India, called it a milestone collaboration that blends Bollywood’s stars with YouTube’s fandom-driven creator ecosystem.
  • Priyanka Sinha Jha, Curator of Screen Awards, highlighted the legacy of Screen as India’s first jury-based film award and now, the first to go fully digital.

📌 Why YouTube?
With YouTube reaching 4 out of 5 Indian internet users and entertainment videos generating over 7.5 billion daily views worldwide in 2024, the platform offers unmatched scale. Connected TVs (CTV) — YouTube’s fastest-growing screen in India — ensure accessibility across devices, bridging traditional and digital audiences.

📌 Legacy Meets Future:
Since its inception in 1995, Screen Awards has been a pioneer in Indian entertainment. From being the first jury-based film award to hosting Oscar representatives, it has always been about credibility and innovation. With this YouTube partnership, Screen Awards once again sets a new standard, symbolizing India’s entertainment future.

👉 Screen Awards 2025 is not just another awards night. It is a digital cultural festival — a stage where cinema, creators, and communities converge.

Awards

PRCI Goa to Celebrate National Public Relations Day – Senior Journalists to Be Honoured

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Panaji, April 17, 2025: The Public Relations Council of India (PRCI), Goa Chapter, in collaboration with the Goa Marathi Patrakar Sangh, is pleased to announce a special event to commemorate National Public Relations Day by honouring senior journalists who have made significant contributions to the field of journalism and public relations in Goa.

The National PR Day celebrations and Felicitation Ceremony will take place on Sunday, April 20, 2025, at 11:00 am at the 4th Floor, Miramar Residency Hall, Miramar, Panaji.

The event will be graced by the presence of Hon’ble Union Minister of State for the Ministry of Power and New and Renewable Energy, Shri Shripad Yesso Naik, who will attend as the Chief Guest. The keynote address will be delivered by Dr. Nilesh Khare, Chief Editor in Chief, Sakal Media Group, Mumbai, who will join as the Special Invitee and Principal Speaker (Pramukh Vakte).

The program will be presided over by Shri Deepak Narvekar, Chairman of PRCI Goa Chapter, and will feature a warm welcome by Shri Waman Prabhu, Vice Chairman of PRCI and President of the Goa Marathi Patrakar Sangh. Also present will be Shri Gurunath Pai, Vice Chairman; Shri Nikhil Wagh, Secretary, Smt. Kalika Bapat, Joint Secretary; ; Shri Venkatesh Kamat, Coordinator of PRCI Goa Chapter; Smt. Nikita Chodankar, Media Coordinator; Shri John Aguiar, Treasurer; and Shri Jones Samuel, Assistant Treasurer.

The Executive Committee Members supporting the event include Baban Ghatge, Uday Kamat, Milan Vaigankar, Julian D’Costa, Sangam Bhosle, Arjun Halarnkar, Venkatesh Kolar, Vrunadvan Raikar, Anant Joshi, R Britto, and Sandeep Kamble.

Commenting on the event, Deepak Narvekar, President of PRCI Goa Chapter, emphasized the need to bring together public relations professionals and to acknowledge the invaluable contributions of local journalists who tirelessly work for the betterment of the state. He expressed that this initiative is just the beginning, and in the near future, more journalists will be recognised for their dedication and service. He also added that efforts will be made to secure the support of the Government of Goa to further the interests and professional growth of PR practitioners in the state.

This event seeks to honour Goa’s most respected and senior media professionals for their lifetime of dedication and impactful work in shaping public discourse and upholding the values of responsible journalism. The celebration also aims to highlight the critical role that public relations and ethical journalism play in a vibrant and democratic society.