Beeta Lautata Hai awarded

“Beeta Lautata Hai”- a collection of poems by the renowned Hindi, poet, columnist and translator Manoj Sharma, has been selected by the Ministry of Human Resources Development for its award constituted for Hindi writers. 

Encompassing varied fascinating facets of Jammu, its culture, life, this collection of poems was chosen for this prestigious award by the high level selection committee of the Ministry under a special scheme of Central Hindi Directorate for propagation of literature and encouragement of Hindi litterateurs.

Manoj will receive an award of Rs one lakh from the President of India.Hailing from Gurdaspur, Punjab, the writer has been active in the Hindi literary field of the state and has remained associated with Hindi Sahitya Mandal. His first collection of Hindi poems "Yathaarth Kay Ghere Mein" sponsored by J&K Academy of Art, Cultural and Languages (JKAACL) was released by the then Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Jagmohan in 1988. He continued his literary pursuits and his second poetic collection “Yakeen Mano Mein Aaunga’ was released by the Padma Shree awardee and noted Hindi-Dogri litterateur late Prof Ram Nath Shastri in 1997.

His award winning poetic venture “Beeta Lautata Hai” was released in Mumbai by renowned Urdu litterateur, Hindi film director Sagar Sarhadi.Manoj has been writing on issues concern humanity and society and it’s his unending quest to find answers to conundrums of life in his inimitable manner which fascinates his readers as well as critics. His well appreciated literary column ‘Filhaal’ published in ‘Dainik Kashmir Times”, is very popular among the lovers of Hindi literature, critics and has always evoked great response among the readers. He also remained associated with ‘Sanskriti Manch Jammu’ for quite long and as its founder member contributed in many ways to this literary organization. He has been actively associated with radio, Doordarshan and theatre activities.

Besides being a determined, committed writer, Manoj displays his creativity with a splash of innovation in poster making, editing leaflets on Hindi literature and its legendary litterateurs.  His works on Bhagat Singh, Paash, Palestinian writer Mehmood Darvesh and Faiz Ahmad Faiz have been highly appreciated.In his own words, “Beeta Lautata Hai” was weaved with  the culture, various nuggets of  life in Jammu and its people in the backdrop, therefore this award winning collection is in a sense- a recognition of ‘Duggar Pradesh’ which served as an inspiration for him and offered him cherishing moments.  Many literary figures and organizations including Yuva Hindi Lekhak Sangh have congratulated him on receiving this award.  

Sahitya Akademi Award for 2 J&K writers

Two prominent writers from Jammu and Kashmir, Prof. Lalit Magotra and Naseem Shafaie, were among the several litterateurs conferred with the coveted Sahitya Akademi Award for the year 2011. While Magotra has bagged the award for his collection of Dogri essays titled ‘Cheten Diyan Galiyan’, Kashmir’s well known poetess, Shafaie has got it for her poetic collection “Na Thsay Na Aks”.

This prestigious award ceremony will be held in Delhi on February 14, 2012 and they will also be rewarded with prize money of Rs.1 lakh.

While talking to News Agency Jammu, an elated Prof Magotra said that the content in the book depicts different shades and facets of life in Dogra culture as well as human relations. “I have tried to analyze about the changing time in this book, whether we have progressed or not,” he added.

Born in November 1944 in Jammu, Prof. Lalit Magotra is also a Physicist holding degrees of M. Sc. and Ph.D. in Physics (High Energy Physics) and retired as professor of Physics from University of Jammu. He has more than 200 scientific publications (Physics) in international journals of highest repute and has spent about five years in European countries.

He wrote his first short story in Dogri in the year 1972 and his first play in 1976. Since then Prof. Magotra has written prolifically in various genres of Dogri including short story, one-act play, stage-play, essays, travelogue, literary criticism etc.  He has four books to his credit in Dogri. Prof. Magotra remained general secretary of Dogri Sanstha for seven years and is now the president of this prestigious organization since 1996.

The awarded book of Prof. Magotra “Cheten Diyan Ga’liyan” is a collection of 65 short personal essays which show Prof. Magotra as a cosmopolitan author rooted to the soil of his birth. The content of the essays is absorbing, informative and instructive.  Of the 65 essays, 30 are a commentary on the state of affairs around us.  Of special interest are his autobiographical pieces.

Naseem Shafaie, become the first Kashmiri woman to get the prestigious Sahitya Akademi Award.This is the second award for 'Na Thsaay Na Aks'. In 2009, it was chosen for the first ever Tagore Award, jointly sponsored by the Sahitya Akademi and Samsung Electronics in collaboration with the South Korean government. 'Na Thsay Na Aks', which represents modern sensibility on the poetic scene in Kashmir, was released in 2008 and is second poetic collection of the poet.

Naseem Shafaie’s earlier poetic collection 'Derche Machrith (Open windows)' was released in 1999. Many of her poems, including the ones that depict the suppressed atmosphere of turbulent Kashmir, have been translated into different languages including English, Urdu, Kannada, Tamil, Marathi and Telugu.

The other poets getting the award are  Kabin Phukan (Assamese), Manindra Gupta (Bengali), Premananda Mosahari (Bodo), Melvyn Rodrigues  (Konkani), Harekrishna Satapathy (Sanskrit), Aditya Kumar Mandi  (Santali) and Khaleel Mamoon (Urdu).

Eight books of poetry, seven of novels, three of essays, one each of short stories, narrative history, biography and a play have won the Sahitya Akademi Award this year.

The recommendation for the awards was made by jury members representing 23 Indian languages and approved by the executive board of the Sahitya Akademi. The jury met in New Delhi yesterday and announced the awards. The award function will be held in New Delhi on February 14 next year.

Readers Travel Award in Jammu kashmir

Jora conferred Readers Travel Award

Minister for Tourism and Culture Nawang Ragzin Jora was conferred "Readers Travel Award" for his outstanding contribution in promotion of tourism in Jammu and Kashmir.

The award was given by Union Minister for Tourism Subodh Kant Sahai in the presence of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah at an impressive function, organized by Conda Nest Travellers, publishing a leading elite magazine at Leela Palace, Chankiyapuri. The organization in its survey declared Mr. Jora an efficient, dedicated and honest, who worked hard in promotion and showcasing the tourism potential of the State in and outside the country.

Speaking on the occasion Mr. Jora said that State Government under the leadership of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has taken exemplary initiatives to fully explore varied tourism potential of the State, with focused attention to develop destinations and creation of modern infrastructure. Development of golf courses, convention centres and water sports have received due attention, he maintained.

The Minister said that Government succeeded in bringing complete peace and normalcy in the State due to which this season State witnessed a huge influx of domestic and foreign tourists. He hoped that in future J&K would become a hub of tourist activities.

Mr. Jora said that tourist related infrastructure is being created and upgraded with sincere financial assistance of Centre. He thanked Union Ministry of Tourism for providing every possible support in showcasing the rich tourism potential of the State.

Mr. Jora hoped that J&K would enormously benefit with the visit of elite class tourists from the country and abroad in coming years, for which he said Government has launched a wide publicity campaign to aware the visitors of other countries about the peaceful atmosphere and rich varied tourism potential of the State.

Kashmiri Poetess gets Sanskriti Award

Not many choose her way, but young Shahida Shabnum brought alive the anguish of women in the Kashmir Valley through her words in her native language and won the coveted Sanskriti Award which was presented to her today by former President A P J Abdul Kalam. 35-year-old Shabnum, a Kashmiri poetess, is among the five Young Achievers who were awarded the 2011 Sanskriti Awards for their contributions to the world of literature, journalism, art, music and social achievement. Presenting the prestigious awards to them at a glittering ceremony this evening, Kalam appreciated their efforts to bring about a change in the society through their works. "I am sure, the authors of great books, journalists, art exponents, talented musicians and social achievers have to promote in all their works the righteousness in the heart, that will give us one day, great human beings and great Indians," Kalam said in his address. 

Journalist Rana Ayyub, Bangalore-based Abhishek Hazra, musician Murad Ali and social activist Vinayak Lohani are the other awardees. Shabnum is a writer, devoting her time and energy to writing poems and short stories in the Kashmiri language and her writings reflect the anguish of Muslim women under the present circumstances in Kashmir, the Sanskriti Pratishthan in the citation. Receiving the award, all the five receipents called it as a "great honour" and thanked everyone for making this happen. Ayyub, a journalist with Tehelka, was selected for her journalistic skills, while Hazra was chosen for his works that explore intersections between technology and culture through animated shorts and performance pieces. Lohani, an IIM graduate, who chose to work for under-privileged children despite having the option of going for a white-collar job, was inspired by Swami Vivekananda and started 'Parivaar' in 2003 with just 3 resident children.