Jamshedpur: Acclaimed Santhali writer Joba Murmu, 49, received the Sahitya Akademi Bal Sahitya Puraskar 2017 for her collection of short stories for children.

The steel city-based Murmu received the prestigious award for the book Olon Baha from Sahitya Akademi president Vishwanath Prasad Tiwari at a function in Vijayawada on Tuesday. Among other recipients of the Sahitya Akademi Bal Sahitya Puraskar this year are well-known names Paro Anand (English), Sashthipada Chattopadhyay (Bengali) and S.R. Lal (Malayalam).

A teacher at Bal Vikas primary school in Uliyan, Kadma and a Karandi resident, Murmu has a post-graduate degree in Santhali literature and has written books and scripts for Santhali films .

But the author said writing stories for children was special.

"I do try to inculcate moral values among Santhali children through my stories, but I try to do them in an interesting way," she said over phone from Vijayawada. "Children will only read or listen to something that captures their imagination."

Murmu, who earlier received the Pandit Raghunath Murmu Award from Aaseka (Rourkela) and RR Kisku Award from the All India Santhali Writers' Association, however, calls the Sahitya Akademi Bal Sahitya Puraskar special. "I cherish the honour."

The daughter and wife of well-known Santhali writers C.R Majhi and Pitambar Hansda, Murmu has been writing since childhood. "I grew up in an atmosphere of creativity and Santhali literature," she said. "In fact, my husband (Hansda) also received the Bal Sahitya Puraskar in 2012."

All India Santhali Writers' Association president (East Singhbhum chapter) Rabindranath Murmu praised Murmu. "She deserves this honour. She thinks and works for the promotion of Santhali language and script," he said.