Delhi Bal Sahitya Puraskar Winners with Secretary, President, Vice-President of Sahitya Akademi and the Chief Guest Sahitya Akademi organized its Bal Sahitya Puraskar Presentation Ceremony at Chukkapalli Pichaiah Auditorium, Vijayawada on November 14, 2017. Dr. K. Sreenivasarao, Secretary, Sahitya Akademi, welcomed the awardees, guests, writers and the audience and said that this is the first event in the capital of Navyandhra Amaravathi which is organized by Sahitya Akademi. He expressed that it is in India where we find variety of children’s literature and the young minds are the real asset to preserve the glorious, historic and literary tradition through their writings in the contemporary scenario. Prof. Viswanath Prasad Tiwari, President, Sahitya Akademi while delivering the Presidential address, congratulated the award winners. He expressed that in the contemporary scenario, less number of literature being written by the children’s writer. He further reminded the contributions made by eminent writers such as Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore, Amritlal Nagar, R.K. Narayanan, Satyajit Ray and many others for enriching the children’s literature. He suggested that specific emphasis should be given to develop children’s literature in the age of electronic as well as social media. The honours of Bal Sahitya Purashkar were bestowed upon the awardees in 24 languages at the hands of the President, Sahitya Akademi, including Sri Horendranath Borthakur (Assamese), Sri Sasthipada Chattopadyay(Bangali), Late Smt. Renu Boro (Bodo), Smt. Sudesh Raj(Dogri), Ms. Paro Anand (English), Sri Harish Naik (Gujarathi), Sri Swayam Prakash (Hindi), Dr. N.S Lakshminarayana Bhatta (Kannada), Sri Showkat Ansari(Kasmiri), Sri Vincy Quadros (Konkini), Sri Amlendu Shekhar Pathak (Maithili), Sri S.R.Lal( Malayalam), Sri Warepam Jugindro Singh (Manipuri), Sri Lakshman Mahipati Kadu (Marathi), Ms. Shanti Chetri (Napali), Dr. Subhendra Mohan Srichandan Singh (Odia), Sri Satpal Bhikhi (Panjabi), Sri Pavan Paharia (Rajasthani), Dr. Rajkumar Mishra(Sanskrit), Ms. Joba Murmu (Santhali), Sri Roshan Lakshmichand Golani (Sindhi), Sri Velu Saravanan (Tamil), Sri Vasala Narasaiah (Telugu) and Sri Nazeer Fatehpuri (Urdu). Chief Guest Mr. Sethu Madhavan, Eminent Malayalam Writer delivered his views on child literature. He told that “it is very difficult to write for children in the present society. Even I wrote several short stories and Novels in Malayalam but I am not able to write a single story for children. To write for children there should be patience, language and thought processing. I am not able to tell a story to my grandchildren. The winners of Bal Sahitya Puraskar writers they are doing good job to the society. I would like to congratulate all the recipient of Purskar.” Prof. Chandrashekhar Kambar, Vice- President, Sahitya Akademi, while giving the concluding remarks said that “a writer of children’s literature occupies a very different position. It is quite unique as well. Like folk tale, this literature when narrated overcomes the locality and gains universality.” The award ceremony was followed by cultural performance (Lai-haraoba, Kabui Jagoi & Mao Jagoi) by renowned artists of Jawaharlal Nehru Manipur Dance Academy, Imphal. SAHITYA AKADEMI NEWSLETTER 1 Delhi The Writers meet was held on 15th November, 2017, the second day of the Bal Sahitya Puraskar Ceremony at Indian Medical Association Hall, Eluru Road, Governerpet, Opposite Swarna Palace, Vijayawada. The programme was chaired by Prof. Chandrashekhar Kambar, Vice- President, Sahitya Akademi. Recipients of Bal Sahitya Purskar expressed their views and experiences during the Writers’ Meet. Horendra Nath Borthakur, who writes in Assamese, said that “We must take up pen to ensure freedom from all sorts of tortures and exploitations of the children, to pave the way towards a liveable world for the children, to drive away the impediments on the way to make them the ‘future artists’ of the world. “ Bengali writer Sasthipada Chattopadhyay said that “I got inclined and developed an urge for children literature / fictions within me which helped me to Mr. Vasala Narasaiah, Sahitya Akademi Award-winner in Telugu, sharing his experiences reach the milestone where I am standing today. My scripts were never being refused by any of the publishers and also used to get transformed to the manuscripts, them good human beings. To motivate their imagination and which made me more confident. Dogri writer Sudhesh Raj told creativity and to encourage innermost virtue, there should be that I am writing since 1967 for children. In these days children beautiful books. Tamil writer, Sri Velu Saravanan said that “I am are not getting enough love and affection from parents.” She a child by heart who always keeps watching this grand huge further expressed that in present times parents are busy with world with surprise and wonder. Through the other phase of this their work and not spending sufficient time with children. We mystical feeling, I receive wonderful experience every day.” have to tell the stories like Panchatantra and others to children. Sanskrit writer Mr. Rajkumar Misra told that children after Showkat Ansari, Kashmiri writer, presented that “My works in coming from school they are busy with their home works and my whole lifetime shows variations depending on the environment not spending time with grandparents. In villages, children are I lived. Initially I was interested to write poems on music and lot learning and playing but in urban they are not. Parents and of them are recited in different schools as prayer in the morning.” teachers should encourage children in creative things. Konkani writer Sri Vincy Quadros enumerated that “Let us stand Mr. Vasala Narasaiah who is from Telugu told that now a tall to protect and preserve our own and the neighbour’s language day’s children are addicted to electronic gadgets and they are amongst the people who speak, read, write, love and support so denying book reading and he told that we have to inculcate book that we directly and indirectly protect, support and preserve the reading in children and if they want watch TV we should give diversified Indian culture present within us because of our priority to show discovery and other children channels. Nazeer languages.” He expressed his views that “Bhasha haim to des Fatehpuri said that “I love the innocence in children. An innocent haim, des haim to hum haim (Country exist if language exist and child is like a flower, like a moon, like a mirror but when the if country exist we exist) Let us live and let others live.” same child grows into an adult the society and politics rob him Maithili writer Sri Amlendu Shekhar Pathak told that “Maithili of his innocence. The light of his heart dims, he loses the is a local language of Mithila. Seetha’s mother tong also Maithili. fragrance of his innocence while the grownups watch him We are giving importance to the child literature also. This is a helplessly. I am not against or detest the growing process of an good sign to child literature in Nation.” S.R. Lal, Malayalam infant in fact it’s a natural process.” The Writers’ Meet concluded writer said that children love stories. They deserve good literature. with a vote of thanks delivered by Dr. K. Sreenivasarao, Secretary, Creative reading enriches their views and attitudes and makes Sahitya Akademi. 2 SAHITYA AKADEMI NEWSLETTER Delhi On the second day of the Bal Sahitya Puraskar Presentation that “The journey of Telugu children literature from punditry to ceremony, Sahitya Akadmi organized seminar-cum-reading on populism was not as smooth as a cakewalk.” Sri Tapan “The Evaluation of Children’s Literature”at Indian Medical Bandyopadhyayay said that these day’s writers and poets are Association Hall, Eluru Road, Governerpet, Opposite Swarna now trying to create innovative writings so that youngsters are Palace, Vijayawada. Welcoming the dignitaries and participants attracted to literature. Konkani writer Sri Datta Naik said that of the Seminar, Dr. K. Sreenivasarao, Secretary, Sahitya Akadem Children’s literature in Konkani has a long tradition starting said that “Children’s Literature has always part and partial of from the folklore. Prof. Jodha Chandra Sanasam, Manipuri every civilization on the earth.” He expressed that children’s writer said that children’s literature should be designed to literature is much more than knowledge and has been considered convey the values, attitudes and information necessary for as a great tool for the enrichment of knowledge. children within their cultures. Sanskrit writer, D. Ramakrishna Prof. N. Gopi, (Convener, Telugu Advisory Board, Sahitya highlighted made by the Sanskrit writers for enriching the Akademi), while giving his introductory remarks, emphasized children literature. The second session was chaired by Mr. K. that present day’s children’s writers should update their knowledge Sreekumar. Eminent scholars, like Sri Paidimarri Ramakrishna in terms of scientific and technological changes. He said (Telugu), Aravind Chokkadi (Kannada), Shalu Kaur (Panjabi) children’s literature was culturally enriched and one must try all presented their views on the evolution of Children’s Literature possible ways to inculcate the habit of reading among children.” in the respective languages. Telugu scholar, Sri Paidimiri Guest of Honour, Jonnalagadda Rajagopala Rao, Eminent Telugu Ramakrishna presented valuable information related to evolution Writer was not able to attend the programme due to unavoidable of children’s