Shrikant Verma Shikhar Samman for poet Ashok Vajpeyi 18 Sept 2026 Delhi

On 18 September 2026, a distinguished literary ceremony was held in New Delhi to mark the 95th birth anniversary of Shrikant Verma. On the occasion, eminent Hindi poet, critic, translator, editor and cultural personality Ashok Vajpeyi was conferred the prestigious “Shrikant Verma Shikhar Samman”. This was the 18th edition of the Shrikant Verma Literature Award.

The award comprised a cash prize of ₹21 lakh, a citation and a seven-kilogram solid Panchdhatu statue of Shrikant Verma. The honour was presented to Ashok Vajpeyi in recognition of his distinguished and long-standing contribution to Hindi literature, Indian art and culture.

Eminent poet Arun Kamal attended the ceremony as the Chief Guest, while renowned painter Paramjit Singh presided over the event. Mamta Kalia, Prof. Purushottam Agrawal and Vinod Bhardwaj shared their memories of Shrikant Verma and reflected upon his literary contribution.

The programme opened with a musical presentation by acclaimed classical vocalist Vidushi Sudha Raghuraman, who presented a musical interpretation of Shrikant Verma’s celebrated work “Magadh”. A short film on his life, literary contribution and legacy was also screened.

In his Vote of Thanks, Dr Abhishek Verma, Managing Trustee of the Shrikant Verma Trust and the only son of Shrikant Verma, said that literature and politics should always remain separate. He stressed that very few people today are genuinely committed to the welfare of writers, and that there is an urgent need to protect, nurture and encourage both literature and literary personalities.

Dr Verma also observed that sincere efforts made for the advancement of literature are sometimes viewed through the prism of politics, criticism and personal hostility, which ultimately harms literature itself. He reiterated that the Shrikant Verma Trust would continue to uphold and advance the values associated with the protection of literature and the rights of writers with dedication and conviction.