Coveted Shiromani awards not given away since 2012

JALANDHAR: The coveted Shiromani Sahit Ratan and Shiromani Sahitkar Awards, awarded every year for contribution to the Punjabi language, literature and culture, have not been given since 2012 by the Punjab department of language.

Interestingly, the priz e amount for the Punjabi Sahit Ratan and Shiromani Sahitkar awards were doubled to `10 lakh and `5 lakh respectively in 2012. But no award ceremony has been held since.

On the contrary, the Sahitya Academy, New Delhi, has announced the winners for the year 2015, in which Sukhdev Madpuri has been honoured with the Bal Sahitya Puraskar for his contribution to children literature in Punjabi, whereas Simran Dhaliwal has been awarded with Sahitya Akademy Yuva Puraskar for her novel ‘Aas aje baki hai’, written in Punjabi.

In 2012, while felicitating the literary personalities, chief minister Parkash Singh Badal had asked the education minister to ensure that the function is held every year.

“Writers and other literary personalities who work for the betterment of the society do not get any type of help from the government and they do not even get recognition for their work either,” lamented a veteran writer.

Desraj Kali, a writer associated with Kendriya Punjabi Lekhak Sabha, said, “The government is not sincere towards literature and education. They do not have time to even recognise the work of artists in any field. The language department is totally inactive and their attitude is horrible.”

Tarsem Gujral, a veteran writer from Jalandhar and a recipient of the President Award for his poetry ‘Raakh aur Cheelen’, said, “No one knows what exactly is the reason behind this. Only the state government can tell what is going on. It is really sad that writers are not getting what they deserve.”

“Only the government knows the reason behind the delay in giving the awards which the writers deserve,” said another writer.

Chetan Singh, director of language department, said, “A meeting will be held next month most probably and decision will be taken about the awards ceremony.”

The government is not sincere towards literature and education. They do not have time to even recognise the work of artists in any field. The language department is totally inactive and their attitude is horrible. TEHAL SINGH SEKHON, general manager (industries)