Imphal: Renowned Manipuri author Arambam Ongbi Memchoubi will be honoured with Amar Ujala’s prestigious Akashdeep Award in the non-Hindi Indian languages category, while eminent Hindi short-story writer Mamta Kalia will receive the honour in the Hindi category, in recognition of their outstanding contributions to Indian literature.
The writers will receive a cash prize of Rs 500,000 each, a citation, and a Ganga sculpture at the event Shabd Samman for 2025.
“It is noteworthy that the United Nations declared 1975 as the International Women’s Year. 2025 marks its Golden Jubilee year, and 2026 has also been dedicated by the UN to women’s contributions to agriculture. In this light, honouring these two women creators lends the award a special distinction,” the publication said in a statement.
Born on January 1, 1957, Arambam Ongbi Memchoubi is widely acclaimed for her prolific writings in Manipuri literature. She is particularly known for her work on postcolonial themes, women’s identity, and Meitei myths. Her powerful and insightful voice has made a significant impact on the contemporary Manipuri literary landscape.
Mamta Kalia, one of the most respected voices in Hindi literature, has made remarkable contributions through her short stories, novels, and essays, earning widespread acclaim over the decades.
Non-Hindi Indian language authors who have previously received the Akashdeep Award include Girish Karnad, Bhalchandra Nemade, Shankha Ghosh, Pratibha Ray, M T Vasudevan Nair, and Sitanshu Yashaschandra.
Among the Hindi writers, Namvar Singh, Gyanranjan, Vishwanath Tripathi, Shekhar Joshi, Vinod Kumar Shukla, and Govind Mishra have received the prestigious award.
The awards celebrate the rich diversity of Indian literary traditions and recognise the enduring influence of women writers in shaping the country’s cultural and intellectual life.
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‘Shabh Samman’ was launched in 2018 by the Amar Ujala Foundation against the backdrop of the collective dream of Indian languages, with the Akashdeep Award conferred to one distinguished litterateur each from Hindi and another Indian language.
