Font size:
Print
Vyas Samman
Context:
Renowned Hindi author Suryabala’s novel Kaun Des Ko Vasi: Venu Ki Diary has been selected for the prestigious 34th Vyas Samman, 2024, the KK Birla Foundation announced in an official statement.
Suryabala and her Work
- Suryabala, born in 1943 in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, holds an MA in Hindi literature from Kashi Vishwavidyalaya and a PhD.
- Over a career spanning decades, she has authored more than 50 novels, biographies, children’s books, and other works, many of which have been adapted into TV serials.
- Her writing often focuses on social issues.
- Published in 2018, Kaun Des Ko Vasi: Venu Ki Diary explores the aspirations of Indian youth who view America as a land of promise, delving into the challenges, temptations, and cultural conflicts they face.
- It reflects on the spiritual alienation, cultural estrangement, and identity struggles experienced by individuals caught between two worlds, unable to reconnect with their roots or fully assimilate abroad.
About the Vyas Samman
- Instituted in 1991, the Vyas Samman is awarded to an exceptional Hindi literary work by an Indian citizen published within the last 10 years.
- The honor includes a cash prize of ₹4 lakh, a citation, and a plaque.
- A selection committee comprising distinguished literary figures and scholars is responsible for choosing the awardee.
- If no work meets the expected standard in a given year, the award may not be presented.
- Notable Winners: In 1991, Ramvilas Sharma received the award for his work Bharat ke Prachin Bhasha Parivar aur Hindi. In 2020, Prof. Sharad Pagare was honored for his novel Pataliputra ki Samrajni. Most recently, in 2023, Pushpa Bharti won the award for her book Yaadein, Yaadein aur Yaadein.
Alongside the Vyas Samman, the KK Birla Foundation also presents the Saraswati Samman, with a cash prize of ₹15 lakh, for outstanding literary works in any language listed in Schedule VIII of the Indian Constitution, and the Bihari Puraskar.
