Announcement of the National Vishnu Khare Poetry Awards

Nandkishore Acharya, A. Aravindakshan, Liladhar Mandloi, and Parvati Tirkey to be Honored

Award Ceremony to be Held at SCOPE Campus on February 19, 20, 21, 2025

Bhopal: The Vanmali Srijanpeeth, dedicated to art, literature, and culture and active for over 40 years, has announced the National Poetry Awards in memory of Vishnu Khare, a prominent poet, critic, translator, journalist, and disciple of Vanmali, born in Chhindwara, Madhya Pradesh. Mr. Santosh Choubey, the National President of Vanmali Srijanpeeth, announced the Vishnu Khare Poetry Awards-2025 and stated that creators will be honored in four different categories under the Vishnu Khare Poetry Awards.

Awardees:

1. Vishnu Khare Criticism Award:
To be awarded to senior critic Nandkishore Acharya (Bikaner).

2. Vishnu Khare Translation Award:
To be awarded to senior translator A. Aravindakshan (Kerala).

3. Vishnu Khare Poetry Award:
To be awarded to renowned litterateur Liladhar Mandloi (Delhi).

4. Vishnu Khare Young Poetry Award:
To be awarded to young poetess Parvati Tirkey (Jharkhand).

It is noteworthy that the esteemed critic Nandkishore Acharya, honored with the Sahitya Akademi Award, has made a significant contribution to the fields of criticism, poetry, drama, education, culture, and editing. He has also been actively involved in the literary scene of Madhya Pradesh.

Former Vice-Chancellor of the International Hindi University, Wardha, and senior litterateur A. Aravindakshan is a prominent critic, litterateur, and translator of our times. He has published twenty critical books in Hindi, five in Malayalam, one novel, fifteen translated books, and numerous other works.

Renowned poet and critic Liladhar Mandloi, honored with the Vishnu Khare Poetry Award, has served as the Director-General of Doordarshan. He has published various works, including poetry collections such as “Ghar-Ghar Ghooma,” “Raat-Biraat,” “Upastith Hai Samudra,” and folklore collections like “Andaman-Nicobar Ki Lok Kathayein,” “Chand Ka Dhabba,” and “Ped Bhi Chalte Hain.”

Young poetess Dr. Parvati Tirkey, honored with the Vishnu Khare Young Poetry Award, has a keen interest in poetry and folk songs. Her first poetry collection is titled “Phir Ugna.”

The poetry award ceremony will be held in Bhopal from February 19 to 21, 2025. “Katha Samay” will be organized at Rabindranath Tagore University on February 19 and 20, and the Vishnu Khare Poetry Award ceremony will be held at Vanmali Auditorium, SCOPE Global Skills University, Bhopal on February 21. Dr. Madhuri Ramdhari (Mauritius), Secretary-General of the World Hindi Secretariat, will be the special guest at the ceremony. Renowned litterateurs from across the country, including Mamta Kalia (New Delhi), Arun Kamal (Patna), Akhilesh (Lucknow), Oma Sharma (Mumbai), Manisha Kulshreshtha (Jaipur), Mahesh Darpan, Prakash Manu, Devi Prasad Mishra (New Delhi), Nilesh Raghuvanshi, Mukesh Verma, Santosh Choubey (Bhopal), Mahesh Verma, Ramkumar Tiwari (Chhattisgarh), and over 100 coordinators from Vanmali Srijan Kendras will participate. Many litterateurs from Bhopal and Madhya Pradesh will also be present in various sessions.

Vanmali Srijanpeeth

Vanmali Srijanpeeth, established in memory of the distinguished storyteller, educator, and thinker late Jagannath Prasad Choubey ‘Vanmali’, is a literary, cultural, and creative institution dedicated to honoring and preserving traditional and modern values. The institution actively promotes and supports the creation of literature and arts, fostering a respectful environment for public interest in these fields. It also engages in research, exploration, study, and writing, providing opportunities for creative talents to express themselves.

The ‘Vanmali Katha Samman’ is awarded to writers who uphold democratic and human values in literature, reinstating its significance. Esteemed recipients of this award include Mamta Kalia, Chitra Mudgal, Swayam Prakash, Asghar Wajahat, Uday Prakash, Prabhu Joshi, Shashank, Mukesh Verma, Akhilesh, Priyvad, Geetanjali Shree, Manoj Rupda, Mohammed Arif, Alpana Mishra, Anand Harshul, Manisha Kulshrestha, Manoj Pandey, Chandan Pandey, among others.

In 2025, the Srijan Peeth has also established national poetry awards in memory of the distinguished poet and critic Vishnu Khare.

Profiles of Awardees:

Liladhar Mandloi:
Primarily a poet, Liladhar Mandloi’s poetry reflects the sweetness of the Chhattisgarhi dialect and the vibrant life of its people. He has also contributed to various genres, including folklore, travelogues, diaries, media, journalism, and criticism. He has published numerous books, including “Ghar-Ghar Ghooma,” “Raat-Biraat,” “Magar Ek Awaaz,” “Dekha Addekha,” “Upastith Hai Samudra,” and folklore collections from Andaman-Nicobar, among others. He has been honored with the Pushkin Award, Narayan Sur Award, Raja Award, Vagishwari Award, and Ramvilas Sharma Award for his contributions to literature.

Nandkishore Acharya:
A renowned critic, Nandkishore Acharya has significantly contributed to criticism, poetry, drama, education, and cultural studies. He has published twelve poetry collections, eight plays, seven critical works, and twelve socio-philosophical books. He has translated numerous notable poems from languages like Brodsky, Lorca, and modern Arabic poetry. He has been honored with awards such as the Meera Award, Bihari Award, Bhubaneshwar Award, Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, Subrahmanyam Bharti Award, and Sahitya Akademi Award.

A. Aravindakshan:
A senior litterateur and translator, Prof. A. Aravindakshan has served as the former Vice-Chancellor of the Mahatma Gandhi International University, Wardha. He is a prominent critic, litterateur, and translator of our times. His notable works include “Raag Leelavati,” “Asankhya Dhwanion Ke Beech,” “Bharapoora Ghar,” “Patjhad Ka Itihaas,” “Ram Ki Yatra,” and “Prarthana Ek Nadi Hai.” He has published twenty critical books in Hindi, five in Malayalam, one novel, fifteen translated books, and twenty-three edited books. He has received over twenty national and international awards, including the Sahitya Vachaspati title.

Dr. Parvati Tirkey:
Dr. Parvati Tirkey is a young poetess. Her first poetry collection is connected with tribal life, culture, folklore, and local life. She has a keen interest in poetry and folk songs. Her poetry collection “Phir Ugna” has been published. She also writes stories, with “Gidni” published in Vagarth. Her poems have been published in various magazines like Indradhanush, Sadanira, Samkalin Janmat, Hindavi, and Pragatisheel Haak.