Bal Sahitya Puraskar 2025: Celebrating the Best in Indian Children’s Literature
The Bal Sahitya Puraskar is one of the most prestigious awards presented by India’s National Academy of Letters — Sahitya Akademi. It recognizes excellence in children’s literature across India’s diverse linguistic landscape. The award not only honours authors but also encourages the growth of meaningful and creative literature for young readers.
Announcement and Award Details
- Announcement: Sahitya Akademi announced 24 winners of the Bal Sahitya Puraskar 2025 during an executive board meeting held in June 2025.
- Award Prize: Each recipient receives ₹50,000 in cash along with an engraved copper plaque.
- Award Ceremony: The felicitation ceremony will be held in New Delhi, at the Triveni Auditorium.
Winners Across 24 Languages: A Glimpse of Diversity
This year’s award list beautifully reflects India’s linguistic richness—24 languages, 24 distinguished authors, and multiple literary forms such as poetry, stories, novels, essays, and plays.
Some notable winners include:
| Language | Genre | Author |
| Assamese | Poetry | Surendra Mohan Das |
| Bengali | Short Stories | Tridib Kumar Chattopadhyay |
| Bodo | Stories | Binay Kumar Brahma |
| Dogri | Poetry | P. L. Parihar “Shauq” |
| English | Retold Mythology / Stories | Nitin Kushalappa MP |
| Gujarati | Poetry | Kirtida Brahmbhatt |
| Hindi | Prose / Memoir | Sushil Shukla |
| Kannada | Short Stories | K. Shivalingappa Handihal |
| Kashmiri | Short Stories | Izhar Mubashir |
| Konkani | Stories | Nayana Adarkar |
| Maithili | Short Stories | Munni Kamat |
| Malayalam | Novel | Sreejith Moothedath |
| Manipuri | Drama | Shanto M. |
| Marathi | Poetry | Suresh Govindrao Sawant |
| Nepali | Novel | Sangmu Lepcha |
| Odia | Poetry | Rajakishore Parhi |
| Punjabi | Novel/Literature | Pali Khadim |
| Rajasthani | Drama | Bhogilal Patidar |
| Sanskrit | Poetry | Preeti Pujara |
| Santali | Poetry | Haralal Murmu |
| Sindhi | Poetry | Heena Agnani “Heer” |
| Tamil | Novel | Vishnupuram Sarvanan |
| Telugu | Story | Gangisetti Sivakumar |
| Urdu | Articles | Ghazanfar Iqbal |
Note: The complete winner list features 24 authors—one from each recognized language.
Why This Announcement Matters
1. Linguistic Diversity
Recognizing writers from 24 languages shows the Akademi’s commitment to promoting cultural and literary diversity among children.
2. Creative Variety
From poetry to drama and short stories to novels, the award showcases how wide and dynamic India’s children’s literature landscape truly is.
3. Recognition & Encouragement
The award money and official recognition inspire authors to continue creating rich, imaginative, and value-driven literature for young readers.
4. Cultural and Educational Value
These works help preserve language, culture, and traditional wisdom while shaping young minds with creativity and knowledge.
Authors’ Perspective: Writing for Children
Writing for children is not simply about narrating stories—it involves connecting with their imagination, curiosity, fears, dreams, and hopes. The winners of the Bal Sahitya Puraskar 2025 represent that rare creative sensitivity needed to craft stories that shape young minds.
The Road Ahead: What to Expect
- More Visibility to Quality Literature: These award-winning works should reach schools, libraries, and parents so children can experience them.
- Educational Integration: These books can be included in reading lists and curriculum recommendations.
- Inspiration for New Writers: Young authors and aspiring writers see children’s literature as a meaningful and respected career path.
Conclusion
The Bal Sahitya Puraskar 2025 stands as a celebration of creativity, imagination, and cultural diversity. It honours writers who open the doors of wonder for children and enrich India’s literary heritage. With such diverse and powerful works being recognized, the future of Indian children’s literature looks brighter than ever.
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