Chandigarh:The Haryana Sahitya Evam Sanskriti Akademi has approved the literary awards for Punjabi language for the years 2017 to 2022.A spokesperson for the Akademi shared this information, stating that for the year 2017, the following individuals have been selected for awards: Dr. G.D. Chaudhary from Sirsa for the Haryana Punjabi Gaurav Award; Dr. Surjit Kunjahi from Faridabad for the Mahakavi Bhai Santokh Singh Award; Gurdarpal Singh from Naniola for the Baba Sheikh Farid Award; Satnam Singh from Shahabad for the Punjabi Journalism Award; and Jaswinder Singh Bhindar from Sirsa for the Ragi/Dhadi/Folk Singer Award.
For the year 2018, the selected individuals are: Dr. Sahib Singh Arshi from Sirsa for the Haryana Punjabi Gaurav Award; Dr. Charanjit Kaur from Karnal for the Mahakavi Bhai Santokh Singh Award; Karnail Singh Aspal from Sirsa for the Sant Taran Singh Vehmi Award; Dr. Nishan Singh Rathore from Pipli for the Kavi Harbhajan Singh Renu Award; Prabhu Dayal from Sirsa for the Punjabi Journalism Award; and Sukhwinder Kaur Hundal from Sirsa for the Ragi/Dhadi/Folk Singer Award.
For the year 2019, the awards have been conferred upon: Gurbaksh Singh Saini from Panchkula for the Haryana Punjabi Gaurav Award; Dr. Jeevan Bakshi from Kurukshetra for the Mahakavi Bhai Santokh Singh Award; Lakhvinder Singh Bajwa from Sirsa for the Baba Sheikh Farid Award; Kesra Ram from Ellenabad for the Sant Taran Singh Vehmi Award; and Dr. Indu Gupta from Faridabad for the Kavi Harbhajan Singh Renu Award.
Similarly, for the year 2020, the selected awardees are: Arkamal Kaur from Faridabad for the Haryana Punjabi Gaurav Award; Gurdas Singh Palna from Sirsa for the Mahakavi Bhai Santokh Singh Award; Tirlochan Mir from Kaithal for the Sant Taran Singh Vehmi Award; Pooran Singh Nirala from Ellenabad for the Kavi Harbhajan Singh Renu Award; Gurpreet Kaur Saini from Hisar for the Bibi Jagir Kaur Sandhu Award; Jagtar Smalsar from Ellenabad for the Punjabi Journalism Award; and Som Dutt Sharma from Panchkula for the Ragi/Dhadi/Folk Singer Award.
For the year 2021, the selected Writers are: Gurdayal Singh Nimr from Yamunanagar for the Haryana Punjabi Gaurav Award; Manjeet Kaur Ambalvi from Ambala Cantt for the Mahakavi Bhai Santokh Singh Award; Meena Naveen from Ambala Cantt for the Kavi Harbhajan Singh Renu Award; and Dr. Paramjeet Kaur from Chandigarh for the Bibi Jagir Kaur Sandhu Award.
For the year 2022, the awards have been given to: Dr. Nayab Singh Mander from Ratia for the Mahakavi Bhai Santokh Singh Award; Iqbal Singh Hamzapur from Fatehabad for the Baba Sheikh Farid Award; Prem Kumar Sethi from Karnal for the Hari Singh Dilbar Award; and Harbans Singh Mander from Ratia for the Punjabi Journalism Award.
It is noteworthy that the awards given by the Akademi for Punjabi language include a prize money of Rs. 5 lakh for the Haryana Punjabi Gaurav Award, Rs. 2.5 lakh for the Mahakavi Bhai Santokh Singh Award, Rs. 2.25 lakh for the Baba Sheikh Farid Award, Rs. 2 lakh for the Sant Taran Singh Vehmi Award, Rs. 1 lakh for the Kavi Harbhajan Singh Renu Award, Rs. 1 lakh for the Bibi Jagir Kaur Sandhu Award, Rs. 1 lakh for the Hari Singh Dilbar Award, Rs. 1 lakh for the Punjabi Journalism Award, and Rs. 1 lakh for the Ragi/Dhadi/Folk Singer Award.