SAHITYA AKADEMI AWARD: NACHHATAR GETS HONOUR FOR PUNJABI NOVEL
CHANDIGARH: Barnala-born Punjabi novelist Nachhatar and Panchkula-based Hindi critic Ramesh Kuntal Megh have bagged the prestigious Sahitya Akademi awards this time.
Nachhatar, 67, who is now based in Delhi, has been chosen for his novel ‘Slowdown’ and 80-plus Megh gets the honour for his work of literary criticism ‘Vishwa Mithak Sarit Sagar’
‘Slowdown’, which is set in Delhi, portrays the impact of recession on the lives of aspiring youths who suddenly find themselves without jobs.
Nachhatar has six novels and six collections of stories to his credit. His latest novel is ‘Cancer Train ’, which dwell son the plight of those afflicted by the dreaded disease in the cotton belt of Malwa region.
Born in a Dal it family of Barn ala, Na ch hat ar worked as a factory worker after Class 10 and supported his higher studies by working as clerk in Punjab Agricultural University at Ludhiana.
A truly self-mademan, he went on to become a bank manager, making his home in Delhi.
Talking to HT over phone, Nachhatar said, “It feels good that‘ Slow down’ has been chosen for this honour, though my novel ‘Cancer Train’ is set in Punjab.”
MEGH’SMAGNUMOPUS
Megh’s ‘Vishwa Mithak Sarit Sagar’ is his magnum opus on universal myths and aesthetics .
A protege of legendary Hindi writer Hazari Prasad Dwivedi, who founded the department of Hindi in the Pan jab University in 1960, Megh did his research in aesthetic sand completed his doctorate from Benaras Hindu Universiy.
D wive di invited him to Pan jab university from where Megh moved to the Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar.
Although born and educated in Uttar Pradesh, he later became associated with the northern region. Meghh as to his credits ev- eral books. He is still active in the tricity’s literary circles .
OTHERAWARDEES
Ma man gD ai has been chosen for his English novel‘ The Black Hill ’, N iran jan Mis hr a for his Sanskrit novel‘ Gang a put ra va dan am’ and KP Ramanunni for ‘Daivathinte Pusthakam’ in Malayalam.
The poet winners are Udaya Narayana Singh(Maithili), Shrikant Deshmukh (Marathi), Bhujanga Tudu (Santali), Inqulab (Tamil) and Devipriya (Telugu).
Five writers awarded for short stories are Shiv Mehta (Dogri), Autar Krishen Rahbar (Kashmiri), Gajanan Jog (Konkani), Gayatri Saraf (Odia) and Baig Ehsas (Urdu).