Chief Minister Mr. Nitish Kumar inaugurated the Hindi Seva Samman Award distribution ceremony for the year 2023–24 at the ‘Samvad’ auditorium in the Chief Minister’s Secretariat in Patna on Saturday. The event, organized by the Official Language Division under the Cabinet Secretariat Department, aimed to recognize distinguished contributions to Hindi language, literature, and cultural heritage.
Twelve eminent personalities and organizations were felicitated during the ceremony for their outstanding literary and cultural contributions. Each award included a robe of honour, a symbolic memento, and a monetary prize.
Baba Saheb Ambedkar Award for Social Upliftment
Mr. Jiyalal Arya was conferred the Baba Saheb Ambedkar Award for his significant work in the field of education and socio-economic upliftment of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. He received Rs. 5 lakh along with a robe and a commemorative symbol.
BP Mandal and Nagarjuna Awards for Literary Excellence
Dr. Shiv Narayan received the BP Mandal Award for promoting social harmony through creative writing. He was honoured with a prize of Rs. 4 lakh.
Dr. Mahendra Madhukar was awarded the Nagarjuna Award for his exceptional contribution in novels, poetry, and criticism.
Phanishwar Nath Renu and Mahadevi Verma Awards for Regional Literature
Mr. Hrishikesh Sulabh was honoured with the Phanishwar Nath Renu Award for his contributions to regional storytelling.
Ms. Vandana Rag received the Mahadevi Verma Award for enriching Hindi literature through her distinctive literary voice.
Promoting Hindi in Non-Hindi Regions
Dr. K. Srinivas Rao was presented the Babu Gangasharan Singh Award for his efforts to promote Hindi while residing in a non-Hindi speaking region.
Bharatiya Bhasha Parishad, Kolkata, was honoured with the Vidyakar Kavi Puraskar for its continued promotion of Hindi outside the Hindi belt.
Recognition for Cultural Contributions in Regional Languages
Several awards were given for outstanding contributions to regional cultures and languages of Bihar:
- Late Kirti Narayan Mishra: Vidyapati Puraskar for contributions to Mithila culture.
- Dr. Krishna Kumar Singh: Mohan Lal Mahato Viyogi Puraskar for work on Magadh culture.
- Mr. Shriram Tiwari: Bhikhari Thakur Puraskar for contributions to Bhojpuri cultural heritage.
- Dr. Indrakant Jha: Dr. Grierson Puraskar for work on the Maithili language.
- Dr. Shri Bhagwan Singh: Dr. Father Camille Bulcke Puraskar for special contributions to Hindi language and literature.
Chief Minister Emphasizes Promotion of Hindi and Regional Heritage
Speaking at the event, Chief Minister Mr. Nitish Kumar praised the awardees for their continued efforts in enriching the Hindi language and preserving regional cultures. He emphasized the importance of promoting literary values and linguistic diversity to ensure holistic cultural development in Bihar and beyond.
