Writer Qamer Hamidullah (Hamidullah Wani) has won the Sahitya Akademi Bal Sahitya Puraskar 2022 for his book ‘Daiel’.
In the Kashmiri language, Akademi Bal Sahitya Puraskar has been given to Qamer Hamidullah for his collection of poems, titled ‘Daiel’.
Qamer (74) hails from Akhran, a village in Kulgam district and is a retired teacher. He has so far written three books in the Kashmiri language.
He said our children should know Hindi, Urdu, English and other languages but we also should talk to them in our mother tongue.
“English is an international language and it’s important to learn it. Urdu and Hindi are spoken at national level so it’s important to learn them too. Besides, Arabic is the religious language that we should also know. However, all this is good only after we give due importance to our mother tongue,” he said.
The author said, “Our wards talk in Urdu and English in schools, but we should also talk to them in our mother tongue back home.
“My book ‘Daiel’ on its second lesson has a chapter about ‘Maije Zev’. This chapter teaches us how we can impart the lessons to our children regarding our mother tongue,” he added.
Notably, the award, in the form of a casket containing an engraved copper plaque and a cheque of Rs 50,000, will be presented to the awardees at a special function to be held on November 14th 2022.
The Executive Board of the Sahitya Akademi made the selections on the basis of recommendations by the three-member jury in respective languages and Qamer was awarded under unanimous decision.
The three-member jury for 2022 Bal Sahitya Puraskar for the Kashmiri language was composed of Abdul Khaliq Shams, Zameer Ansari and Kanwal Krishin Lidhoo.
Qamer has also received the best book award 2022 from Maraaz Abdee Sangam. Shahpara Maraaz 2019 was awarded to Daiel – a Children’s Poetry book by Qamer Hamidullah.
LG Manoj Sinha congratulated the awardees on this feat.
In a tweet the LG said, “Heartiest congratulations to Shri Rajeshwar Singh ‘Raju’ and Shri Qamer Hamidullah for winning the Bal Sahitya Puraskar-2022 for their literary works in Dogri and Kashmiri languages. I also congratulate Ashu Sharma and Shaista Khan for Sahitya Akademi Yuva Puraskar-2022.”
The Executive Board of the Sahitya Akademi in its meeting held under the Chairmanship of its President Dr. Chandrashekhar Kambar approved selection of 22 writers for the Sahitya Akademi Bal Sahitya Puraskar 2022.
