Akademi announces awards for books, stories

Chandigarh, May 31 (UNI) The Haryana Sahitya Akademi has announced its awards for books, stories and financial assistance for the publication of books for the year 2006-07.

Akademi Director Radhey Shyam Sharma said seven books have been selected for awards carrying a cash prize of Rs 21,000 each.

In Hindi category, the six books that have been chosen for award included 'Parwaz-e-Ehsas' (poetry) by Mr Mukesh Gambhir of Faridabad; 'Chhav' (story) by Ms Kamal Kapur of Faridabad; 'Astitva' (novel) by Mr Gyan Parkash Vivek of Bahadurgarh; 'Dehati Gandhi' (essay/biography) by Mr Shivanand Malik of Hisar; 'Suraj ka Safar' (child literature) by Mr Deep Chand Nirmohi of Panipat and 'Haryanvi Lok Natyakar Evm Saangi' (review/folk literature) by Dr Anil Savera of Jagadhri.

In Haryanavi category, a book of poetry entitled as 'Gudari Ka Lal' by Mr Madan Gopal Shastri of Hisar has been chosen for the award.

Mr Sharma said that a competition in Hindi story writing was also organised during the year 2006-07 for which 66 stories by 46 writers were received. Four of these were chosen for awards.

The story entitled as 'Khoon' by Mr Kumar Sharma Anil of Chandigarh has been awarded first prize of Rs 3500 and second prize of Rs 3000 has been awarded to Ms Manjit Sharma 'Meera' of Chandigarh for her story 'Astitav'.

He said that the third prize of Rs 1250 each has been awarded to Ms Usha Aggarwal of Kurukshetra for 'Ret Ke Niv' and to Mr Shriniwas Vats of Rohtak for 'Putar Prapti' as bracketed winners.

He said that the Akademi has also selected 29 manuscripts out of a total of 34 to give financial assistance of Rs. 7500 or 50 per cent of the cost of publication, whichever is less, for publication of books for the year 2006-07.

UNI