Vanmali National Katha Samman to be Held on February

On the occasion of World Hindi Day, the prestigious literary institution Vanmali Srijan Peeth, dedicated to the creative legacy and memory of eminent storyteller, educationist, and thinker Jagannath Prasad Chaube ‘Vanmali’, announced the recipients of the upcoming National Vanmali Katha Samman. The announcement was made by the institution’s National President, renowned poet and storyteller Shri Santosh Chaubey, who shared that this year, eight distinguished writers will be honoured across diverse categories.

Organized under the banner of Vishwarang, the three-day Vanmali Katha Samman Samaroh will take place from February 24 to 26, 2026, at Ravindra Bhavan and Rabindranath Tagore University in Bhopal. The event is being hosted by Vanmali Srijan Peeth in collaboration with Rabindranath Tagore University, Scope Global Skills University, and AISECT Publications. The awards will be conferred in a grand ceremony graced by eminent author and Jnanpith awardee Pratibha Ray as the Chief Guest.

Honourees of the 2026 Vanmali Katha Samman:

- Vanmali Kathashirsh Samman: Celebrated author Mridula Garg  

- Vanmali Rashtriya Katha Samman: Veteran storyteller Alka Saraogi  

- Both recipients will be felicitated with a shawl, coconut, citation, and a cash prize of ₹1,00,000 each.

Additional awardees include:

- Vanmali Katha Madhya Pradesh Samman: Urmila Shirish (Bhopal)  

- Vanmali Yuva Katha Samman: Kunal Singh  

- Vanmali Katha Alochana Samman: Mahesh Darpan  

- Vanmali Kathetar Samman: Yatindra Mishra (Ayodhya)

In a significant expansion of its award categories, Vanmali Srijan Peeth has introduced two new honours this year:

- Vanmali Katha Anuvad Samman (Translation): Jitendra Bhatia  

- Vanmali Digital Sahitya Avdaan Samman (Digital Literary Contribution): Anjum Sharma  

- These recipients will each receive a shawl, coconut, citation, and a cash prize of ₹51,000.

Speaking on the occasion, Shri Santosh Choubey emphasized that “the Vanmali Katha Samman, a biennial award under the Vishwarang Foundation, is dedicated to restoring and celebrating narrative literature that upholds democratic and humanistic values in contemporary storytelling. Over the years, the award has honoured some of India’s most distinguished literary voices, including Mamta Kalia, Chitra Mudgal, Shashank, Swayam Prakash, Akhilesh, Asghar Wajahat, Uday Prakash, Maitreyi Pushpa, Prabhu Joshi, Priyamvad, Geetanjali Shree, and Manoj Rupda.”

Launch of the Latest Issue of Vanmali Katha Magazine

The latest edition of Vanmali Katha, a magazine committed to inclusive literary expression and democratic values, will be officially launched during the award ceremony. Since its inception, the magazine has carved a distinct space in the literary landscape by spotlighting the creative spirit of the new century.

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Literary Dialogues and Thematic Sessions

The three-day celebration will also feature a series of thought-provoking sessions, including:

- Narrative Sensibilities and Evolving Language of the Youth  

- Feminine Voice and Gender Perspectives in Contemporary Fiction  

- Storytelling in the Digital Age: Blogs, Insta-Stories, Microfiction, and Podcasts  

- Changing Readers and the New Relevance of Stories

These sessions will include readings by the award-winning authors and discussions with leading literary figures.

Theatrical Adaptations and Musical Performances

On the evening of February 25th at 7:00 PM, Ravindra Bhavan will host a theatrical adaptation of stories by Shri Santosh Chaubey, directed by acclaimed theatre director Sanjay Mehta. Students from the Tagore School of Drama will also present vibrant musical performances, adding a cultural flourish to the festivities.