Tag: Indian Literary Awards

Awards

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

rencygomes02

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.

Books & Literature

Noted Konkani Writer Nayana Adarkar Wins Sahitya Akademi Bal Sahitya Puraskar 2025

allycaralgoa

Honoured for her celebrated children’s story collection Belabaicho Shankar Aani Haer Kanyo

New Delhi | June 18, 2025 — In a proud moment for Konkani literature and Goa’s literary community, Nayana Adarkar, an acclaimed writer and storyteller, has been awarded the Sahitya Akademi Bal Sahitya Puraskar 2025 for her collection of Konkani short stories for children, Belabaicho Shankar Aani Haer Kanyo. The award was announced by the Sahitya Akademi as part of its annual celebration recognizing literary excellence across 24 Indian languages.

📚 A Voice for Young Minds in Konkani

Adarkar’s award-winning book, Belabaicho Shankar Aani Haer Kanyo, is a compelling collection of short stories that capture the innocence, curiosity, and inner world of children, while subtly weaving in themes of identity, family, and social values. Written in authentic, lyrical Konkani, the book has been praised for its emotive storytelling and cultural rootedness, making it a standout contribution to Indian children’s literature.

“This honour reflects the timeless relevance of storytelling in one’s mother tongue. I dedicate this award to the children of Goa and every reader who sees a piece of themselves in my stories,” said Nayana Adarkar in a statement following the announcement.

🏅 About the Bal Sahitya Puraskar

The Bal Sahitya Puraskar, awarded annually by Sahitya Akademi, celebrates outstanding works of literature for children published in Indian languages. The 2025 award includes a cash prize of ₹50,000 and an engraved copper plaque, and is decided by a language-specific jury panel.

For the Konkani category, the jury comprised:

  • Kumud Bhiku Naik
  • Rajay Pawar
  • Louis Rodrigues

The jury praised Adarkar’s work for its “original narrative style, emotional depth, and its ability to meaningfully engage young readers through culturally relevant themes.”

🧒 Writing for the Young, In the Language of Home

Nayana Adarkar’s literary career has long been marked by a passion for preserving and enriching Konkani literature, especially for children and young readers. Her latest accolade is not just a personal milestone but also a significant step in elevating the status of Konkani as a vibrant language of creative expression.

🖋️ A Double Honour for Konkani

The announcement also brought recognition to another emerging voice in Konkani literature — Glynis Dias, who was conferred the Yuva Puraskar 2025 for her short story collection Gaavgaathaa. The Yuva Puraskar celebrates literary excellence among writers under the age of 35.

The Konkani jury for the Yuva Puraskar included:

  • Anant Agni
  • H. J. Goveas
  • Madhav Borcar

Both awards highlight the creative momentum in Konkani literary circles, particularly in children’s and youth genres.

🎉 Award Ceremony to Follow

The official award presentation ceremony for the Sahitya Akademi Bal Sahitya and Yuva Puraskars will be held at a later date, where the recipients will be honoured in the presence of distinguished authors, scholars, and Akademi officials.

🏆 In Summary:

  • Recipient: Nayana Adarkar
  • Award: Sahitya Akademi Bal Sahitya Puraskar 2025
  • Language: Konkani
  • Work: Belabaicho Shankar Aani Haer Kanyo (Short Story Collection)
  • Prize: ₹50,000 + Engraved Copper Plaque
  • Recognizing: Outstanding literature for children published between 2019–2023