NewZNew (Chandigarh) : In a press conference, Author Kiran Nagarkar and Chairman Adab foundation, Mitul Dikshit announced a Lifetime Achievement Award for excellence in literature for Nayantara Sahgal, for the 4th edition of Chandigarh literature Festival-2015(CLF 15) beginning on 5th November at Chandigarh Club.
“The award carries a cash prize of Rs 1 lac/- along with a plaque and a shawl. A citation will also be read during the award ceremony. The honour will be bestowed upon Nyantara Sahgal at the inaugural function of CLF 15 on 5th November.”
Nayantara Sahgal is an acclaimed author of some nine novels and eight works of non-fiction. Her literary journey began with the immensely readable memoir ‘A Time to Be Happy’ in 1958. In 1962 she followed it with another memoir ‘From Fear Set Free’. She won the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1986 for her novel ‘Rich like Us’. However, last month, she returned the Sahitya Akademi Award to protest what she called ‘increasing intolerance’ and in ‘support of right to dissent in the country’, following the murders of rationalists Govind Pansare, Narendra Dabholkar, M. M. Kalburgi and the Dadri mob-lynching incident. This had triggered a National Awards’ returning spree, by Indian writers.
“I congratulate Adab Foundation to have chosen to present Nayantara Sahgal with its first Lifetime Achievement Award at the fourth edition of the Chandigarh Literature Festival. Sahgal has devoted a lifetime to enriching the world of letters.” Said Kiran Nagarkar.
It is noteworthy that Nayantara Sahgal was born in 1927, to Vijay Lakshmi Pandit, sister of India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. Her father, barrister Ranjit Sitaram Pandit, was imprisoned in Bareilly jail for supporting Independence for India where he fell mortally ill. He died of his fourth imprisonment under British rule in 1944. Sahgal studied in several schools including the famous Woodstock School at Mussorie due to the turmoil of the times, later she completed her bachelor’s course from Wellesley College in the U.S.
“We hope to give this award every year to an accomplished literary figure who has contributed immensely to the literature scene, at the Chandigarh Literature Festival.” Summed up Mitul Dikshit.
The Chandigarh Literature Festival will kick off, with its inaugural session on 5th November at 4 PM. The highlights of the inaugural day will be the ceremony in which famous writer Nayantara Sahgal will get the Lifetime Achievement Award, an attraction will also be the session in which Kiran Nagarkar speaks with Nayantara Sahgal about her large body of work. Another session which will be a highlight is ‘Biblio’–a leading literary Magazine’s journey and the changing landscape of literary criticism over the past two decades. The panel discussion will be moderated by noted TV Journalist Sagarika Ghose and will comprise Biblio’s current editorial team members, including Dileep Padgaonkar, Rukhmini Bhaya Nair, Brinda Datta and Seema Alavi.
