Sahitya award for Telangana, Andhra Pradesh writers

Hyderabad: Writers Belegam Bheemesvara Rao from Paravathipuram in Andhra Pradesh and Gaddam Mohan Rao of Telangana state were honoured for their work by the Sahitya Academy on Friday.

Mr Mohan Rao was conferred the Yuva Sahitya Puraskar for his Kongavalu Kathi and Mr Bheemesvara Rao was awarded in the Bal Sahitya category for his collection of short stories, Tatha Maata Varalaa Moota (Grandpa’s tales are a treasure trove).

While the Bal Puraskar will be conferred on Children’s Day, the day for the Yuva Puraskar is yet to be decided.

Mr Bheemesvara Rao of Vizianagaram district said he was delighted with the announcement of the Bal Sahitya Puraskar.

The 67-year-old retired school assistant has  published more than 1,000 books including the short stories, songs and poetry for children.

Tatha Maata Varalaa Moota had 25 short stories on moral values and was published in 2016. He said his first story was published in 1979 and he has since then been researching and writing for children.

He said that the Maharashtra State Bureau of Text Book Production and Curriculum had published his poems and stories after translating them into Marathi.

Sahitya Akademi, India’s national academy of letters, on Friday announced a list of 22 winners of the Bal Sahitya Puraskar and 23 recipients of the Yuva Puraskar for this year. The executive board of the Akademi, under the chairmanship of its president Chandrashekhar Kambar, approved the selection of awardees in Agartala. The winners will receive an engraved copper plaque and a cheque of Rs 50,000.