Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur while presiding over the Shikhar Samman, Kala Samman, Sahitya Purskar, Swaichchhik Sanstha Samman, Chamba Rumal Pahari Chiktrakala Samman Prize Distribution Function-2022 organized by Himachal Pradesh Art, Culture and Language Academy at historic Gaiety Theatre here today said that literature was important because it ignites the mind and give the society the capability to see the world we inhabit from an entirely different perspective. Chief Minister said that the State Government was committed to conserve the rich culture, heritage and literature of the State and has started several schemes to encourage the writers, artists, craftsmen and artisans. He said that the Sahitya Awards for the year 2019, 2020 and 2021 should be provided to the awardees all in time. He said that the artists of the State were also playing a major role in preserving the rich cultural repository of the State. Jai Ram Thakur said that conferring of two Padma Shree Awards to septuagenarian Vidyanand Saraik and Lalita Vakil was great honour to the State.
He said that Lalita Vakil has been working for the promotion of Chamba Rumal for the past about 50 years and this award was not just recognition for her but also for the traditional art of Chamba Rumal of Chamba district. Similarly, Vidyanand Saraik was a multifaceted personality who has been striving to conserve and revive hilly culture for long, he added. Chief Minister honoured Acharya Keshav Sharma with Bharat Ratan Atal Bihari Vajpayee Shikhar Sahitya Samman-2017 and Dr. O.C. Handa with Bharat Ratan Atal Bihari Vajpayee Shikhar Sahitya Samman-2018 for their outstanding contribution in the field of literature. Similarly, Mohan Rathore was given Maharaja Sansar Chand Shikhar Kala Samman for the year 2017 while Dinesh Kumari was given this award for the year 2018 for their oustanding contribution in the field of art and for contribution in promoting Chamba rumal respectively. They were given cash prize of Rs. one lakh each and a citation. Jai Ram Thakur gave away Sardar Sobha Singh Lalit Kala Award for the year 2016 to Prof. Him Chatterji, Education and Language, Art and culture Minister Govind Singh Thakur presented Sardar Sobha Singh Lalit Kala Award for 2017 to Nand Lal Thakur and for 2018 to Khimi Ram for their excellent contributions in their respective fields.
Jwala Prasad Sharma was awarded Manohar Singh Nishpadan Kala Samman 2016, Sanjay Sood for year 2017 and S.D. Kashyap was awarded this award for the year, 2018. They were awarded cash prize of Rs. 51,000 each and a citation. Govind Singh Thakur awarded Pandit Bhawanidutt Shastri Hindi Kavita Purskar for year 2015 to Dr. Inder Singh Thakur for his book Tum Hi To The, Saroj Parmar for her book Main Nadi Hona Chahati Hun for the year 2016 and Vikram Musafir for his book Phir Wahi Sailab for the year, 2018. He conferred Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar Hindi Sahitya Gadya Purskar 2015 to late Badri Singh Bhatiya for his Novel Danger Zone, Ganga Ram Raji for his novel Ek Thi Rani Khairagarhi for the year 2017 and to Vikram Gathaniya for his novel Gaon Ki Ek Sham for the year 2015. He conferred Ram Singh Thakur Hindi Sahitya Vividh Vidha Purskar 2015 to Vidyasagar Negi for his book Ek Himachali Charwahe Ki Aadhyatmik Yatra and Dr. Surat Thakur for his book Himachal Ka Janjatiya Lok Sangeet for the year 2015.
Education and Language and Culture Minister gave Acharya Divakar Dutt Sharma Sanskrit Sahitya Purskar for the year 2015 to Acharya Keshva Ram Sharma for his book Shrishalgramcharitam. Govind Singh Thakur gave away Dr. Vidya Chand Thakur Pahari Sahitya Purskar 2016 to Dr. Chanderrekha Dadwal for book Akkhar Akkhar Jugnu and Dr. Vinod Kumar Bhavuk for book Meriyan Gallan Gajalabel for the year 2018. He gave Lal Chand Prarthi Urdu Sahitya Purskar 2016 to Jahid Abrol for his book Dariya Dariya Sahil Sahil. He gave Swaichchhik Sanstha Samman 2016 to Active Monal Cultural Association Kullu and Thakur Sen Negi English Literature Award 2018 to Dr. Priyanka Vaidya for her book Lotus in Mud. They were awarded cash prize of Rs. 51,000 each and a citation. He also gave away prizes to the winners of Pahari Chitrakala Pratiyogita-2016 and Chamba Rumal Pratiyogita Purskar-2016 on the occasion. Education Minister Govind Singh Thakur also spoke on the occasion. Secretary Himachal Art Culture and Language Academy Dr Karam Singh welcomed the Chief Minister and other dignitaries present on the occasion. Secretary Language Art and Culture Rakesh Kanwar, Director LAC Dr. Pankaj Lalit was also present on the occasion among others.
