Writers Madhu Kankariya, Madhav Hada awarded the Bihari Puraskar
JAIPUR: Noted writers Madhu Kankariya and Dr Madhav Hada were on Wednesday awarded the 31st and 32nd Bihari Puraskar respectively.
The Bihari Puraskar is one of the three literary awards instituted by the KK Birla Foundation in 1991. Named after the famous poet Bihari, the award for Rajasthani authors carries a cash prize of ₹2.5 lakh, a plaque, and a citation. Kankariya was awarded the Puraskar for her 2018 novel Hum Yahan The, while Hada was awarded for his 2015 literary criticism book Pachrang Chola Pahar Sakhi Ri.
The awards were given to the writers by Indravardhan Trivedi, vice-chancellor of Mohan Lal Sukhadia University, in Udaipur during an event at the university premises.
The Bihari Puraskar is given every year for an outstanding work published in the last 10 years by a Rajasthani author in Hindi or Rajasthani. The recipient is chosen by an eminent selection committee.
Kankariya, who was awarded the Bihari Puraskar 2021, has written several prose, poems and books. Her novel, Hum Yahan The, is based on the struggles of tribal people in Jharkhand.
“An honest ‘kalam’ (pen) stands firm against injustices and lies and gives the common man a dream of a better life. It is the writer who makes you realise how deep is the relationship between ‘dharti’ (earth) and ‘yoni’ (human),” Kankariya said.
Hada, a literary critic and academic, was awarded the Bihari Puraskar 2022 for his extensive work in literature, media, culture, and history. He has also been a member of the general council of the Sahitya Akademi and the Hindi Advisory Board.