IMPHAL, Dec 20 - Manipuri poet Kshetri Rajen has been selected for this year�s Sahitya Akademi award for his collected poems Ahingna Yekshilliba Mang published in 2009. The prestigious Sahitya Akademi Award for the year 2015 was announced today. Six books of short stories, six of poetry, four of novels, two books each of essays, criticism and plays and one of memoirs have won this year Sahitya Akademi award.
�The awards were recommended by distinguished jury members representing 23 Indian languages and approved by the Executive Board of the Akademi which met today under the Chairmanship of President, Vishwanath Prasad Tiwari,�Akademi�s Secretary K Sreenivasarao said.
The award comprising an engraved plaque, a shawl and a cheque of Rs 1 lakh will be presented to the writers at a function on February 16 next year during Festival of Letters, the annual festival of the Akademi. The award in Bengali is to be announced at a later date.
The Akademi also announced Bhasha Samman to writer and scholar Shrikant Bahulkar in recognition of his contribution to classical and medieval literature (western region). A Havildar at the 1st Battalion Manipur Rifles in Imphal, Kshetri Rajen contributed a lot in the field of Manipuri literature in both writing as well as literary activities. He published four books of poetry, two translated poetry into English.
His poety books were Nongleek (2003), Murtishingi Mami (2005), Ahingna Yekshilliba Mang (2009) and Charugi Khangpokshang (2012). His English translated poety books were Raindrops (2007) published by Lakhi Publication, Delhi and The Shadows of Statues (2008), Global Publications, Visakhapatnam, both translated by Dr Irom Robindro Singh.
Kshtri Rajen was the Joint Secretary (2009-2011) of the Cultural Forum, Manipur; General Secretary (2011-2013 & 2013-2015) of the Cultural Forum, Manipur; Patron Member of Manipur Sahitya Samiti, Thoubal and the Life member of the Naharol Sahitya Premi Samiti Manipur, Imphal.
