Leading news channel, ‘Aaj Tak’ has announced the ‘Aaj Tak Sahitya Jagriti Samman’ ceremony on November 23 during the three-day ‘Sahitya Aaj Tak’ festival being organized at the Major Dhyanchand National Stadium in the capital. This year, the winners will be felicitated by the President of India, Draupadi Murmu. This year, the ‘Aaj Tak Sahitya Jagriti Life Time Achievement Award’ will be given to poet-lyricist Gulzar. ‘Aaj Tak Sahitya Jagriti Life Time Achievement Award’ is given to any respected writer of the Indian language for their lifelong literary pursuit and service to literature. Delhi will also witness the presence of Gulzar after a long time. The legendary poet will receive a sum of Rs 11 lakh, a memento and a certificate under this award.
Gulzar was born in 1934 in Dina Village in unpartitioned India. His real name is Sampooran Singh Kalra. He was not fortunate to get his mother’s and father’s love in his childhood, yet his passion for reading books gave him the position in the country that anyone can dream of. Starting as a mechanic, Gulzar has become a legend today. On one hand, he has enriched the literary world with works like ‘Chauras Raat’, ‘Ravi Paar’, ‘Jaanam’, ‘Ek Boond Chand’, ‘Raat, Chand Aur Main’, ‘Raat Pashmina Ki’ and ‘Kharashen’, on the other hand, he has also written dialogues and screenplays for films like ‘Mere Apne’, ‘Aashirwad’, ‘Anand’, ‘Khamoshi’. As a director, he directed films like ‘Koshish’, ‘Aandhi’, ‘Mausam’, ‘Angoor’, ‘Namkeen’, ‘Ijaazat’, ‘Maachis’, ‘Hu Tu Tu’ and also wrote the story and screenplay of many of these. Gulzar has been honoured with hundreds of awards and honours till date including Dada Saheb Phalke Award, Oscar Award, Grammy Award, Sahitya Akademi Award and Bharatiya Gyanpith. He is also honoured with Padma Bhushan.
In the same ceremony, senior writers and emerging talents will be honoured with ‘Aaj Tak Sahitya Jagriti Samman’ in 7 other categories for their works. These winners will also receive the honour from President Draupadi Murmu. The selection committee of ‘Aaj Tak Sahitya Jagriti Samman’ has unanimously selected the names of the winners. ‘Aaj Tak Sahitya Jagriti Best Creation Award’ (Writer); ‘Aaj Tak Sahitya Jagriti Best Creation Award’ (Writer); ‘Aaj Tak Sahitya Jagriti Popular Writer Award’ and ‘Aaj Tak Sahitya Jagriti Indian Language Award’ will be given to honour Indian languages along with Hindi. The winners of all these categories will be given an honorarium of one lakh rupees, a memento and a certificate. ‘Aaj Tak Sahitya Jagriti Emerging Talent Award’ is given in all the other three categories except the popular category. Under this award, the winner is given a sum of fifty thousand rupees, a memento and a certificate.
‘Aaj Tak’ started this award last year in collaboration with Jagriti Foundation during the sixth edition of ‘Sahitya Aaj Tak’, the biggest fair of Indian languages. Last year these awards were given by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. Then ‘Aaj Tak Sahitya Jagriti Life Time Achievement Award’ was given to famous screenwriter, poet Javed Akhtar. This year’s winners will be given this award by President Draupadi Murmu during the Maha Kumbh of literature ‘Sahitya Aaj Tak’.
“Sahitya Jagriti Samman” – This award reaffirms our Group’s deep commitment towards Indian Literature. Through ‘Sahitya Jagriti Samman’ till date, we are honouring those writers and their contributions who have enriched the society and culture through their works.
“We are thankful to the Hon’ble President, Smt. Draupadi Murmu, who will be joining us on this special occasion to present the ‘Sahitya Jagriti Samman’. Her support will make this award ceremony even more glorious.” Said Kali Purie, Vice Chairperson and Executive Editor in Chief, India Today Group
