Press Release

Award Ceremony for the Year 2022
“Shri Lal Shukla Smriti IFFCO Sahitya Samman” Mr. Jayandan 

Date: 31 January 2023, Jamshedpur

The leading cooperative organization of the agriculture sector, IFFCO awarded the “Shri Lal Shukla Smriti IFFCO Sahitya Samman” for the year 2022 to veteran story-writer Mr. Jayandan. The award was presented on 31 January 2023, at a ceremony held in the Ravindra Bhavan auditorium in Jamshedpur by literary figure Mr. Manmohan Pathak.

Mr. Jayandan was born on 26 February 1956 in a middle-class family in the village of Milki in the Nawada district of Bihar. He has more than two dozen published works to his credit. Among his novels are Shram evam Jayee, Aisi Nagarriya Me, Salkini Ko Suno Gaon Walo, Vibha-ton, Chowratt, Majalkariya Ki Bagdor, Rimion Ki Daarish, Sannata Bhang, Vishwa Bazaar Ka Oont, Ek Akele Gandhi Ji, Kasuri Pichhanewale Vats, Daal Nahin Galegi An, Ghar Foonk Ka Naasha, Sookhte Sroth, Ghumaar, Gaon Ki Masikayen, Mabhirghaat, Meri Vipray Kathaayen, Meri Vipray Kithaanayen, Seraj And Jaza, Sankamil Kithaanayen, Chuni hui Kithaanayen, Godpochhna, Chantidaa Kithaanayen etc. He has also written plays and poems.

The Selection Committee, chaired by senior story-writer Ms. Dhachitra Mudgal, selected Mr. Jayandan taking into account his wide literary contribution, particularly his sustained focus on agrarian/ farming life and rural realities. The committee included Mr. Musudan Anand, Mr. Murli Manohar Prasad Mishra, Mr. Jayprakash Kidvam, Mr. Ravindra Bhatrapathi and Dr. Himesh Kumar Marsh.

The creative writer Shri Lal Shukla is honoured in whose memory this award was instituted in the year 2011. This award is bestowed annually to a writer whose works address the problems, aspirations and struggles of rural and agricultural life. Earlier recipients include Mr. Vidyasagar Nauhotyal, Mr. Shekhar Joshi, Mr. Sanjeev, Mr. Midhathaleshwar, Mr. Ashtbhuj Jaa Shukla, Mr. Kamalakant Bhatrapathi, Mr. Ramdev Tiwari, Mr. Rammari Mishra Dhivakar, Mr. Minesh Katare, Mr. Ravindra and Mr. Mishwamat Vikoy. The award carries a trophy, a citation and a cheque of one lakh rupees.

In his message, IFFCO’s Chairman & Managing Director Dr. Uday Shankar Awasthi congratulated Mr. Jayandan, noting that he is a writer deeply committed to grassroots social concerns. He said that Mr. Jayandan has sensitively explored the social-cultural realities and challenges of the tribal communities and marginalized sections of Bihar and Jharkhand. Dr. Awasthi, referring to Mr. Jayandan’s body of work, said that in his stories he has strived to capture the exact nature of the villages oscillating between development and backwardness.

IFFCO’s Managing Director Mr. Rakesh Kapoor, in his address, said that through the Shri Lal Shukla Smriti IFFCO Sahitya Samman our endeavour is to bring to the fore and honour those writers who have made the lives of farmers, agriculture and villages the subject of their literature. He conveyed his congratulations to Mr. Jayandan, and said that his creative mind is a testimony to his deep social commitment.

Mr. Ravindra Bhatrapathi, on behalf of the selection committee, provided information about the selection process. Mr. Jayprakash Kidvam read out the citation and placed his views on Mr. Jayandan’s oeuvre.

At the event, eminent writer Mr. Manmohan Pathak expressed his pleasure at presenting the award to Mr. Jayandan, and highlighted the importance of his writing. He said that the work Mr. Jayandan has done in giving voice to the lives of farmers is hardly found elsewhere.

The drama troupe “Path” of Jamshedpur staged a play based on the writings of Shri Lal Shukla and Mr. Jayandan. Award-winning folk singer Ms. Chandan Tiwari gave a presentation of songs of farmers. On this occasion a panel discussion was also held on the subject “Rural and Agrarian Life in Hindi Story Literature”, in which story-critic Mr. Rakesh Bihari, writer Dr. C. Bhaskar Rao, critic Prof. Ravibharat R. and story-writer Dr. Rakesh Kumar Mishra took part. A large number of farmers, teachers, students and literary-enthusiasts attended the ceremony.