Honour for writer

A poster of the award function on September 7

The capital is set for a date with a galaxy of literary stars.

Jharkhandi Bhasa Sahitya Sanskriti Akhra, a cultural organisation of Ranchi, will host a two-day meet at Central Library Hall of Ranchi University from September 7. On the occasion, the outfit will give away Rashtriya Adivasi Sahitya Akhra Samman, a literary award in memory of Ram Dayal Munda, to a tribal writer of the country.

According to the akhra’s general secretary Vandana Tete, Ujjwala Jyoti Tigga, a Delhi-based tribal poet who writes in Hindi, will be the first recipient. “Tigga will be handed over the award by Hindi litterateur Uday Prakash at the inaugural session of the meet,” she added.

Tigga’s poems are either published individually or posted online and she has no collection to her credit yet. “It was a pleasant surprise when I heard that the first Ram Dayal Munda memorial literary award would be given to me,” the 50-something poet who works with ICAR told The Telegraph over phone from New Delhi.

Over 400 delegates will grace the event, the theme of which will be Jeevan ke liye bhasha, bhasha ke liye jeevan (life and language are complimentary to each other). Tribal and dalit writers like Druv Gupta, Anita Bharti, Ujjwala Tigga and Ganga Sahay Meena will be present.

Tete further announced that 20 other writers — two each in 10 tribal tongues and 10 dialects of Jharkhand — will also receive the Akhra Sahitya Samman for their contribution in their respective languages.

“Hats off to those writers who never gave up their spirit of writing despite several odds and lack of state patronage,” she added.