Imphal, Jan 16: Eminent Manipuri author Arambam Ongbi Memchoubi will be honoured with Amar Ujala’s prestigious Akashdeep Award, the publication announced on January 15. Celebrated Hindi writer Mamta Kalia has also been selected for the same distinction.
The two writers will be presented with a cash award of ₹5 lakh each, along with a citation and a Ganga sculpture, at the Shabd Samman ceremony for 2025, which is scheduled to be held shortly.
In a statement, Amar Ujala said the recognition holds special significance in the context of global milestones for women. It noted that the United Nations declared 1975 as the International Women’s Year, 2025 marks its Golden Jubilee, and 2026 has been dedicated by the UN to women’s contributions to agriculture. Against this backdrop, the publication said, honouring two women creators lends the award added importance.
Memchoubi has made a notable contribution to Manipuri literature through her extensive writings on postcolonial perspectives and women’s identity. Mamta Kalia, a prominent literary figure since the early phase of feminist writing in Hindi, has authored more than a dozen acclaimed works and is widely recognised for portraying middle-class realities and the struggles of women.
Several distinguished writers from non-Hindi Indian languages have previously received the Akashdeep Award, including Girish Karnad, Bhalchandra Nemade, Shankha Ghosh, Pratibha Ray, M T Vasudevan Nair and Sitanshu Yashaschandra. Among Hindi authors, past recipients include Namvar Singh, Gyanranjan, Vishwanath Tripathi, Shekhar Joshi, Vinod Kumar Shukla and Govind Mishra.
Amar Ujala also announced the winners of the Shabd Samman–25 awards for outstanding Hindi works published in 2024. In the poetry category, Savita Singh’s collection Vaasna Ek Nadi Ka Naam Hai was selected as the best work. Naish Hasan’s Mutah received the best non-fiction award, while Shahadat’s short-story collection Curfew Ki Raat was chosen as the best work in fiction.
For Indian-language translations, the Bhasha-Bandhu Award will be presented to Sujata Shiven for her Hindi translation of Charu Chivar aur Charya, originally written in Odia by Pradeep Dash. The Thaap Award, recognising an author’s first book, will go to Manish Yadav for Sudhaargrih Ki Malikainen.
