Khasi writer wins Madhya Pradesh's first national award

Shillong, Oct 1 (UNI) Meghalaya's Khasi poet, short story writer and translator Kynpham Sing Nongkynrih. has won the first ''Veer Shankar Shah-Raghunath Shah National Award'', instituted this year by the Madhya Pradesh government.

The award, named after two of Madhya Pradesh's famous freedom fighters and instiututed by the Tribal Welfare Department, was given to writers or artists for creative writing/traditional tribal art. It carries a sum of two lakh rupees, with a citation and a trophy.

Madhya Pradesh Governor Balram Jakhar handed over the award to Dr Nongkynrih recently.

Explaining his selection, the jury's citation says, ''You have given a large canvas to the life and traditions of your people through literature and you are actively engaged in the promotion of the Khasi language not only through Khasi texts but especially through your translations.'' Some of his poems have been translated into Welsh, Swedish and Indian languages, including Hindi and Bengali.

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