New Delhi:
For their outstanding and lifelong contributions to Indian literature, eminent Hindi short-story writer Mamta Kalia and renowned Manipuri author Arambam Ongbi Memchoubi will be honoured with Amar Ujala’s highest literary recognition—the Shabd Samman ‘Akashdeep’ Award 2025. Mamta Kalia has been selected in the Hindi category, while Arambam Ongbi Memchoubi will be honoured in the non-Hindi Indian languages category.
Significantly, the award comes at a historic moment. The United Nations had declared 1975 as the International Women’s Year, and 2025 marks its Golden Jubilee, while 2026 has been dedicated by the UN to women’s contributions to agriculture. Against this backdrop, honouring two distinguished women writers adds special resonance and contemporary relevance to the Akashdeep Award.
Each awardee will receive a cash prize of ₹5 lakh, a citation, and a Ganga sculpture as a symbol of cultural continuity and literary flow.
Celebrating Two Powerful Literary Voices
Arambam Ongbi Memchoubi, born as Dr. Thounaojam Chanu Ibemhal on January 1, 1957, is widely regarded as one of the most influential voices in contemporary Manipuri literature. Through her prolific and deeply researched writings—particularly on Meitei myths, postcolonial thought, and women’s identity—she has made an exceptional contribution to shaping modern Manipuri literary discourse.
Mamta Kalia, born on November 2, 1940, is among the most respected names in Hindi literature. Emerging during the early waves of feminism in India, she forged a distinctive literary path with her bold, introspective, and socially engaged writing. With more than a dozen acclaimed works, she is especially known for articulating the complexities of middle-class life and the struggles surrounding women’s identity with clarity and emotional depth.
Over the years, the Akashdeep Award has honoured literature in several Indian languages, including Hindi, Kannada, Marathi, Bengali, Odia, Malayalam, and Gujarati. Manipuri has been chosen this year, further expanding the award’s linguistic and cultural reach. Past recipients include literary stalwarts such as Girish Karnad, Bhalchandra Nemade, Shankha Ghosh, Pratibha Ray, M.T. Vasudevan Nair, Sitanshu Yashaschandra (non-Hindi languages), and Namvar Singh, Gyanranjan, Vishwanath Tripathi, Shekhar Joshi, Vinod Kumar Shukla, and Govind Mishra in Hindi.
Best Work Awards Announced Under Amar Ujala Shabd Samman–25
Alongside the Akashdeep honours, Amar Ujala has also announced the Best Work Awards for outstanding Hindi books published in 2024:
- ‘Chhap’ (Poetry) Award:
Savita Singh for her poetry collection “Vaasna Ek Nadi Ka Naam Hai” (Desire Is the Name of a River). - Non-Fiction Award:
Naish Hasan for “Mutah”. - Fiction Award:
Shahadat for the short-story collection “Curfew Ki Raat” (The Night of the Curfew). - Bhasha-Bandhu (Indian Language Translation) Award:
Sujata Shiven for the Hindi translation of “Charu Chivar aur Charya”, originally written in Odia by Pradeep Dash. - ‘Thaap’ Award (Debut Book):
Manish Yadav for “Sudhaargrih Ki Malikainen” (The Women Who Run the Reformatory).
Each of these awardees will receive a cash prize of ₹1 lakh, along with a citation and a Ganga sculpture.
Together, the Amar Ujala Shabd Samman–25 awards reaffirm a deep commitment to literary excellence, linguistic diversity, and the celebration of voices that shape India’s cultural and intellectual life.
