Eminent Hindi short-story writer Mamta Kalia and renowned Manipuri author Arambam Ongbi Memchoubi will be conferred with the prestigious Akashdeep Award under the Shabd Samman 2025, recognising their lifetime contribution to Indian literature.
The Akashdeep Award is the highest honour of the Shabd Samman and is awarded annually to one distinguished writer from Hindi and one from a non-Hindi Indian language. Each awardee will receive a cash prize of ₹5 lakh, a citation, and a Ganga sculpture.
The selection assumes special significance as 2025 marks the Golden Jubilee of the United Nations’ International Women’s Year, while 2026 has been dedicated to recognising women’s contributions to agriculture. Honouring two women writers this year reflects this broader global context.
Born on November 2, 1940, Mamta Kalia emerged as a strong literary voice during the early feminist phase of Hindi literature. Her writings are known for their sharp portrayal of middle-class realities and the struggle for women’s identity.
Arambam Ongbi Memchoubi, born on January 1, 1957 as Dr Thounaojam Chanu Ibemhal, is a leading contemporary voice in Manipuri literature. Her work draws extensively from Meitei myths and postcolonial discourse, with a sustained focus on women’s identity.
