2 get Sahitya Bhasha Samman for Hariyanvi

Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, December 6

For the first time perhaps, two litterateurs of Hariyanvi language have been selected for Sahitya Akademi Bhasha Samman -2018 by the Sahitya Akademi.

Harikrishna Dwivedi (74), a retired schoolteacher from Pai village of Kaithal, and Shamim Sharma (59), a resident of Hisar and principal of a college in Sirsa, have been jointly named for the Sahitya Akademi Bhasha Samman -2018 for Hariyanvi in the unrecognised languages category.

Born on August 14, 1944, Dwivedi is an eminent writer of Hariyanvi and has retired as a Hindi teacher from the state Education Department. He has published 10 books in Hariyanvi. Dwivedi has been honoured with several awards and honours, including Jankavi Mehar Singh Samman 2015, Shreshth Kriti Samman from Haryana Sahitya Akademi and Baburam Gupta Smriti Samman.

Shamim Sharma was born on March 17, 1959, and is a well-know writer in Hariyanvi. She has 33 years of teaching experience, including 13 years as a principal. She has edited 10 volumes of Haryana Encyclopedia, sponsored by the Haryana Government. Her published books include ‘Kurushankh’, ‘Hastakshar’ (a collection of short stories), ‘Ajanmi Beti Ki Chitthi’, ‘Panchnad’ and ‘Jadubhara Saath’ (collection of poems). Besides these, she has penned seven publications under the common titles of ‘Chaupal-based Hariyanvi humour’. She was honoured for her pioneer work in social service with a gold medal by Mother Teresa and also with Sahitya Sevi Samman.

Elated at receiving the honour, Dwivedi said he never wrote for awards or honours, but for public interest alone. “However, it is always a matter of satisfaction and fulfillment when a person’s work is acknowledged and rewarded,” Dwivedi said.

Shamim, a regular contributor for a humour column in Dainik Tribune for the past almost 19 years, said it was a matter of great pride that she was among the first two litterateurs to have received Sahitya Awards for Hariyanvi language.

She said it was unfortunate that the youths today considered it below their status to speak in Hariyanavi and this, she said, hampered the development of the language.