Shoolini Sahitya Samman for author Harnot
Shoolini University, a prestigious institution in Solan, conferred the “Shoolini Sahitya Samman 2025” upon renowned author SR Harnot on April 30, during the concluding day of its three-day National Literary Festival. The award was presented by the university’s Founder and Chancellor, Prof Prem Kumar Khosla, in the presence of acclaimed actor Rajit Kapoor, Shenaz, and members of the festival organising committee. The event also saw participation from educators, authors, artists, musicians, and students from across the country.
Prior to the award ceremony, a theatrical adaptation of Harnot’s acclaimed stories, “Bees Foot Ke Bapu Ji” and “The Reddening Tree,” was performed by Rajit Kapoor and Shenaz. The captivating performance, which lasted over an hour and a half, left the packed auditorium spellbound.
Expressing his gratitude upon receiving the award, SR Harnot called it a “unique honour and a surprise.” He emphasised that recognising a writer’s work at a university is a significant gesture and praised the thoughtful selection of his short stories for the theatrical performance.
As a tribute to his literary contributions, Shoolini University has acquired all of Harnot’s published works for its library. With over 22 books to his name, his stories and novels are part of the curriculum in more than 15 universities across India. Additionally, his works are being researched in over 50 universities, including in MPhil and PhD programmes.
