Jalandhar author appointed to Hindi Advisory panel of GOI

Noted Hindi author Dr Ajay Sharma from Jalandhar has been nominated as a member of the Hindi Advisory Committee of the Union Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India, for a three-year term.

He is the only representative from Punjab to be inducted into the reconstituted committee, which has been formed by the Ministry of Women and Child Development in pursuance of the Department of Official Language under the Ministry of Home Affairs. The committee will advise the ministry on the effective implementation of the Government of India’s official language policy and other related matters.

The Union Minister of Women and Child Development will serve as Chairperson of the committee, while the Minister of State will be the Deputy Chairperson. A total of 29 members from across the country have been appointed.

Recently, his novel Basra Ki Galiyan was included in the M.A. curriculum at Guru Kashi University. This marks his seventh novel to be introduced into university syllabi, making him the first contemporary novelist to achieve this distinction. Notably, Basra Ki Galiyan alone has been incorporated into the M.A. curriculum of three different universities.

To date, Dr Sharma has authored 17 novels, six plays, and a short story collection. Several of his works have been translated into different languages. His honours include Punjab’s highest literary recognition—the Shiromani Sahityakar Award—the Sahityik Saurabh Samman from the Government of Uttar Pradesh, and a national award from the Central Hindi Directorate for his novel Kagad Kalam Na Likhanhaar.

Expressing his gratitude, Dr Ajay Sharma said, “This nomination is both an honour and a responsibility. I will strive to contribute meaningfully towards strengthening Hindi language and literature while supporting the ministry’s policies.”