BHOPAL, Feb 24: The three-day ‘National Vanmali Katha Samman Samaroh 2026‘, a premier literary congregation dedicated to the memory and creative legacy of the illustrious litterateur, educator, and thinker Jagannath Prasad Choubey ‘Vanmali’, will commence on February 24, 2026.
Mr. Santosh Choubey, National President of Vanmali Srijan Peeth and senior poet-writer, announced the details during a press briefing on Saturday. He stated that eight distinguished writers across various categories will be decorated this year. The ceremony is being organized under the aegis of ‘Vishwarang’ by Vanmali Srijan Peeth, Rabindranath Tagore University (RNTU), SCOPE Global Skills University, and AISECT Publication.
The festivities will be held across the lush campuses of RNTU and SCOPE Global Skills University. The event will be graced by Jnanpith Award-winning Odia writer Pratibha Ray as the Chief Guest, with the inaugural performance featuring the soul-stirring Kabir Gayan by Padma Shri Prahlad Singh Tipanya.
The Awardees of 2026
The jury has selected eight luminaries for their exceptional contribution to contemporary literature:
|
Category
|
Awardee
|
Recognition
|
|
Vanmali Katha Shirsh Samman
|
Mridula Garg
|
₹1,00,000, Citation & Memnto
|
|
National Vanmali Katha Samman
|
Alka Sarogi
|
₹1,00,000, Citation & Memento
|
|
Vanmali Katha Anuvad Samman
|
Jitendra Bhatia
|
₹51,000, Citation & Memento
|
|
Vanmali Katha Alochna Samman
|
Mahesh Darpan
|
₹51,000, Citation & Memento
|
|
Vanmali Katha Madhya Pradesh Samman
|
Urmila Shirish
|
₹51,000, Citation & Memento
|
|
Vanmali Yuva Katha Samman
|
Kunal Singh
|
₹51,000, Citation & Memento
|
|
Vanmali Kathetar Samman (Non-Fiction)
|
Yatindra Mishra
|
₹51,000, Citation & Memento
|
|
Vanmali Digital Sahitya Avdan Samman
|
Anjum Sharma
|
₹51,000, Citation & Memento
|
Strategic Inclusion: For the first time, the Peeth has introduced the ‘Katha Anuvad Samman‘ (Translation Honor) to recognize the global impact of literary translation, awarded to veteran writer and translator Jitendra Bhatia.
Literary Discourse and Cultural Highlights
Beyond the accolades, the summit will serve as a platform for deep intellectual exchange:
-
Journal Launches: The February issue of the inclusive literary magazine ‘Vanmali Katha‘ and the Peeth’s newsletter ‘Vanmali Varta’ will be unveiled.
-
Special Sessions: Panels will deliberate on critical themes such as “Classical Music in the Digital Age: From Riyaz to Reels,” “Literature in the Digital Era: Shifting Readerships,” and the socio-emotional landscapes of contemporary short stories.
-
Stage Performance: On February 25, a theatrical adaptation of Santosh Chaube’s story ‘Magar Shakespeare Ko Yaad Rakhna’ (But Remember Shakespeare), directed by Sanjay Mehta, will be staged at Sharda Auditorium.
Profiles in Excellence (Briefs)
-
Mridula Garg: A Sahitya Akademi and Vyas Samman winner, her works like ‘Kathgulab’ have been translated into multiple international languages.
-
Alka Saraogi: Celebrated for ‘Kali-Katha: via Bypass’, she is a recipient of the Sahitya Akademi Award and the ‘Order of the Star of Italy’.
-
Yatindra Mishra: An Ayodhya-based scholar known for ‘Lata: Sur Gatha’, which won the 64th National Film Award.
-
Jitendra Bhatia: An IIT Bombay alumnus and Chemical Engineer whose literary translations have bridged the gap between world literature and Hindi readers.
The ceremony will be coordinated by National Convener Jyoti Raghuvanshi, with creative participation from prominent figures including Leeladhar Mandloi, Geeta Shree, and Mukesh Verma.