A well-known litterateur Shri Ranendra bagged the ‘Sri Lal Shukla Smriti IFFCO Sahitya Samman’ for the year 2020. The Award was conferred by IFFCO, a premier organization in the fertilizer sector. Ranendra was honoured in a grand ceremony held at Aryabhata Auditorium of Ranchi University on Sunday.
In the writers who make tribal life the subject of their authorship, the name of ‘Ranendra’ emerges as a bright star. He has been particularly associated with the tribal dominated state of Jharkhand and has been familiar with the socio-cultural characteristics and interrelations of the tribal communities of the area. In addition, he has also been an explorer of the effects of globalization and development on tribal communities.
In 2008, he first entered the literary world with the novel ‘Global Gain Ke Devata’, wherein he gave a touching narrative of the life of the tribal community ‘Asura’. In 2014, he presented the struggle of the tribal community ‘Munda’ through a novel titled ‘Ghayab hota Desh’. His new novel ‘Gungi Rulai Ka Chorus’, based on the houses of Indian classical music, is now before the readers.
The jury, constituted under the chairmanship of senior litterateur Prof Nityananda Tiwari, has selected Shri Ranendra keeping in mind his extensive literary contributions focused on farming, tribal life and rural reality. Other members of the jury were Mrs. Chandrakanta, Mr. Murali Manohar Prasad Singh, Prof. Ravibhushan, Shri Vishnu Nagar and Dr. Dinesh Kumar Shukla.
This prestigious award is given annually to a creator whose compositions highlight the problems, aspirations and struggles related to rural and agricultural life. A symbol, citation and an amount of eleven lakh rupees are awarded to the winner. The award was started in the year 2011 in the memory of Shri Lal Shukla, a legend.
This honor has been conferred on Mr. Vidyasagar Nautiyal, Mr. Shekhar Joshi, Mr. Sanjeev, Mr. Mithileshwar, Mr. Ashtabhuja Shukla, Mr. Kamalakant Tripathi, Mr. Ramdev Dhurandhar, Mr. Ramdhari Singh Diwakar and Mahesh Katare so far. It is for the first time that this award was given to a litterateur from the state of Jharkhand.
Dr Uday Shankar Awasthi, Managing Director of IFFCO congratulated the versatile writer Shri Ranendra.
Prof. Nityananda Tiwari described Shri Ranendra as the author of the tradition of Renu and considered the ‘ Global Gain Ke Devata ‘ as a novel of the tradition of Godan, Maila Aanchal. He said that this novel gives the most authentic depiction of rural and farming life after “Maila aanchal”. He lauded IFFCO for its role in promoting literature in the society.
On this occasion Nilottpal Mrinal with his team presented soulful music, which was appreciated by the people. Also, a dramatic presentation of ‘Sukhant’, the story of Srilal Shukla, was done on the occasion by Devendraraj Ankur. It captivated the audience no end.
Senior Literature Dr. Prem Kumar Mani and Dr Ashok Priyadarshi, former Head of the Department of Hindi, Ranchi University addressed the audience and conveyed their best wishes to Ranendra.
Literary enthusiasts from the city including students and teachers of Ranchi University, Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee University and Jharkhand Central University attended the ceremony. The ceremony took special care of the social distancing norms.
