Awards – Delhi Hindi Academy Renames Literary Honours After National Leaders
Awards – The Delhi government’s Hindi Academy has announced a major restructuring of its literary awards, introducing new names and expanding recognition for contributions to literature, journalism, culture, and the promotion of the Hindi language. Several existing honours have been renamed after noted national leaders and public figures, while additional awards have been created to acknowledge excellence across different fields.
Major Changes to Prestigious Literary Honour
One of the most significant changes involves the academy’s highest recognition, the Shalaka Samman. The award has now been renamed the Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay Shalaka Samman. Alongside the new title, the prize money has also been increased from ₹5 lakh to ₹7 lakh, making it one of the most prominent literary recognitions offered by the institution.
The academy has also introduced a new honour dedicated to preserving and promoting India’s cultural heritage and knowledge traditions. This award has been named after former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and carries a cash prize of ₹5 lakh.
New Awards Introduced for Language and Cultural Contributions
In addition to the newly created cultural award, another recognition has been established in memory of senior BJP leader Vijay Kumar Malhotra. The award aims to honour individuals who have made notable contributions to the development and promotion of the Hindi language.
Officials said that applications have been invited for awards covering the academic years 2022-23, 2023-24, 2024-25, and 2025-26. Writers, poets, journalists, and literary figures from the Delhi-NCR region are eligible to apply. The last date for submitting entries is June 23.
Multiple Categories Under Sahityakar Samman Scheme
A total of 16 awards will be presented under the Sahityakar Samman Yojana. These honours cover a wide range of literary and intellectual contributions, reflecting the academy’s effort to encourage excellence in different disciplines.
Among the awards carrying prize money of ₹2 lakh each are the Rani Ahilyabai Holkar Samman for women writers, the Sant Ravidas Sahitya Samman, and the Veer Savarkar Samman, which recognises works associated with national awareness and consciousness.
The women writers’ award has undergone a name change as well. Previously dedicated to anti-corruption activist Santosh Koli, who lost her life in a road accident, the honour has now been renamed after Rani Ahilyabai Holkar.
Several Awards Carry Prize Money of ₹1 Lakh
The academy has also listed numerous awards that offer a cash prize of ₹1 lakh each. These include the Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya Hindi Sahityakar Samman, the Baba Jorawar Singh Samman for children’s literature, and the Swami Vivekanand Yuva Pratibha Samman aimed at recognising young talent.
Other notable honours include the Vidya Niwas Mishra Samman for Hindi journalism and the Dr Vijay Kumar Malhotra Hindi Sevi Samman for outstanding service toward the promotion of Hindi.
Recognition Across Diverse Literary Fields
The range of awards extends beyond traditional literary writing. The Nirmal Verma Samman will recognise excellence in Hindi translation, while the Ramchandra Shukla Hindi Utkarsh Samman focuses on contributions to the advancement of Hindi literature.
Additional honours include the Vasudev Sharan Agrawal Samman for folk literature and the Devendra Swaroop Samman for writings related to subjects such as science, economics, political science, sociology, and history. The Mridula Sinha Samman has been designated for women authors, while the Narendra Kohli Samman will acknowledge achievements across multiple literary genres.
According to academy officials, detailed information regarding eligibility criteria and award categories has been made available through the institution’s official platform, enabling interested applicants to review requirements before submitting their nominations.