Shillong: Shillong-based author, translator, and cultural custodian Bijoya Sawian will be honoured at the 3rd Edition of the Aalekh Foundation Women Achievers’ Awards, scheduled to take place on July 19, at The Leela Palace, New Delhi.
She is among 20 distinguished women from across India being recognised for their remarkable contributions across various sectors.
The award celebrates Sawian’s profound influence on Indian literature and her lifelong dedication to preserving the cultural heritage of the Khasi people.
Through both her fiction and translations, she has brought the voices and traditions of Meghalaya into the national spotlight.
Her translations, including The Teachings of Elders and The Main Ceremonies of the Khasis, have safeguarded oral histories, while works like Shadow Men and Hill Songs of Love and Longing offer evocative portrayals of life in the Khasi Hills.
Sawian’s writings have been widely praised for bridging cultures, generations, and geographies — amplifying Northeast India’s nuanced narratives and enriching the country’s literary landscape.
The upcoming ceremony will feature an esteemed gathering, with R. Venkataramani, Attorney General of India, and Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul, former Supreme Court judge, attending as chief guests.
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Dr. Rennie Joyy, Founder of the Aalekh Foundation, shared her thoughts ahead of the event:
“Bijoya Sawian’s work is a quiet literary revolution — restoring dignity and visibility to stories often left in the margins. At Aalekh, we’re honoured to recognise women like her, who safeguard legacies, reshape narratives, and reveal the transformative power of language and memory.”
The Aalekh Foundation Women Achievers’ Awards is a flagship initiative celebrating women who not only break barriers in their fields but also leave a lasting impact on society, culture, and nation-building.
