Bhubaneswar: Alka Saraogi, a novelist and short story writer in Hindi language, will be conferred with Fakir Mohan National Literary Award for the year 2023.
The decision was taken during a recent meeting chaired by Fakir Mohan University, Balasore, vice-chancellor Santosh Kumar Tripathy. The award will be given to Saraogi on July 11, the 25th foundation day of the university. The 62-year-old writer is a recipient of the 2001 Sahitya Akademi Award for her novel ‘Kalikatha: Via Bypass’. Apart from novels, she has written several short stories.
This award is given acclaimed writers across Indian languages and in English by the varsity in the memory of the noted Odia writer. She will be the third person to receive the award consisting a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh, a memento and a citation. It was first given to Malayali writer U R Ananthamurthy in 2004 but stopped the very next year. The university reintroduced the ward last year, which was then conferred on Tamil writer Perumal Murugan.
The university will also confer ‘Vyasa Gauraba Samman-2023’ to Gourahari Das, noted Odia litterateur and scribe, and Sudarsan Nanda, retired IIT professor and former vice-chancellor of North Odisha University, Baripada. They will receive Rs 25,000 each with citations.
Similarly, Sanjay Panda has been picked for ‘Fakir Mohan Juba Galpika Puraskar’ given to youth short story writer (below 35 years of age). He will get this award having Rs 5000 cash and a citation.
