New Delhi : Dainik Jagran organised the Dainik Jagran Kriti Samman Ceremony at the India International Centre, New Delhi, under its flagship “Hindi Hain Hum” initiative, reaffirming its continued commitment to recognising and nurturing excellence in contemporary Hindi literature. The ceremony brought together eminent writers, journalists, academicians, publishers, and distinguished members of the literary fraternity to celebrate outstanding contributions to Hindi writing and publishing. The program commenced with a two-minute silence and a condolence in memory of the eminent poet Dr. Bashir Badr following his demise. This was followed by a melodious performance by renowned classical singer Sunanda Sharma of the Banaras Gharana, which marked the musical opening of the program. The event was graced by the Hon’ble Deputy Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha, Shri Harivansh Narayan Singh, who attended the ceremony as the Chief Guest.
A major highlight of the evening was a special session commemorating “200 Years of Hindi Journalism,” marking an important milestone in the evolution of Hindi media and public discourse. The session featured Shri Vishnu Tripathi, Executive Editor, Dainik Jagran; Dr. Pragya Paliwal Gaur, Vice Chancellor, Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC); senior journalist Ms. Rubika Liyaquat; and senior journalist Shri Harshvardhan Tripathi. The discussion reflected on the historical journey of Hindi journalism, its transformative role in shaping public consciousness, and the contemporary challenges and responsibilities confronting the media landscape today.
In the course of the discussion, Shri Vishnu Tripathi elaborated on the future of print media, stating, “The conversation around print media is often viewed too narrowly, with many limiting it only to physical newspapers. Today, print media also includes e papers, websites, and digital readership. Its reach is not diminishing, but rather evolving with changing times and newer forms of consumption.”
Continuing the discussion, Dr. Pragya Paliwal Gaur said, “As Hindi journalism completes 200 years and journalism education approaches a century in India, institutions like IIMC have played a significant role in shaping generations of journalists through a strong practical learning approach. Speaking on the growing influence of Artificial Intelligence, she emphasized the need to train students in the ethical and responsible use of new technologies, while reminding young journalists that the true purpose of journalism is not only to inform, but also to contribute positively to society and nation building.”
Speaking on the growing noise in television journalism, Ms. Rubika Liyaquat said, “Television debates today are often shaped by emotion, but facts must always remain at the centre of journalism. She noted that the larger challenge facing the media is not censorship, but a growing crisis of credibility driven by the race for virality and TRPs. Reflecting on the term ‘Godi Media,’ she remarked that when the strength of one’s own words weakens, there is a tendency to undermine others instead. She further emphasized that journalists should remain connected to their nation and cultural values.”
To honor the selected participants of the Dainik Jagran Gyanvritti scholarship program, Vishnu Prakash Tripathi, Executive Editor of Dainik Jagran, and Basant Rathore were present on the stage. The first selected research scholar under the scholarship program is Rahul Kumar. He will conduct research on the topic: “The Role of Soft Power in Indian Diplomacy: A Study in the Context of Yoga, Culture, and the Indian Diaspora.” The next selected participant is Kayenat Tarannum. Her research topic will be: “The Rise of Modern Feminism among Gen-Z Muslim Women and the Impact of Government Policies on It.” Another selected participant under the scholarship program is Nakul Sharma. He will conduct research on the topic: “From Duty-Based Justice to Rights-Based Justice: A Scientific Study of Indian Legal Thought.
Under the Dainik Jagran Kriti Samman 2025, literary works across Fiction, Poetry, Non-Fiction, and Translation were recognised under the Hindi Bestseller 2025 and Hindi Bestseller 2025 “Uttam Mein Sarvottam” categories. “Uttam Mein Sarvottam” stands for excellence, delivering the best content among bestselling works across every genre.
Under the Hindi Bestseller 2025 category, author Divya Prakash Dubey was honoured in Fiction for Yaar Papa. In Poetry, Swayam Srivastava received the award for Ghar Ke Vaaste. In Non-Fiction, Gauhar Raza was recognised for Mithakon Se Vigyan Tak – Brahmand Ke Vikas Ki Badalti Kahani. In the Translation category, Mahagatha – Puranon Ki 100 Kathayein by Satyarth Nayak, translated into Hindi by Ashutosh Garg, received the honour.
Under the Hindi Bestseller 2025 “Uttam Mein Sarvottam” category, Manoj Rajan Tripathi’s Kasari Masari was honoured in Fiction. In Non-Fiction, Animesh Mukherjee received recognition for Thakurbadi – Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore Ka Kutumb Vrittant. In Poetry, Neelesh Misra was awarded for Main Aksar Sochta Hoon, while Ami Ganatra’s Mahabharat Ka Anavaran received the honour in the Translation category.
The selection process for the Dainik Jagran Kriti Samman was based on rigorous literary evaluation parameters, including originality, literary merit, readability, thematic relevance, and the contemporary significance of the subject matter. The jury panel for the awards comprised Shri Jitendra Srivastava, Registrar, IGNOU, and Shri Sudhir Pratap Singh, Chairperson, Centre of Indian Languages, Jawaharlal Nehru University.
The initiative seeks to provide meaningful recognition to Hindi authors while simultaneously strengthening the ecosystem of Hindi readership, publishing, and literary discourse. Through quarterly bestseller lists and a structured recognition framework, Dainik Jagran continues to build a credible and sustained platform for celebrating contemporary Hindi literature.
In the concluding session, Hon’ble Shri Harivansh Narayan Singh, Deputy Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha, delivered a special address and interaction on the theme “The Relationship between Journalism and Literature” and said, “I am happy to be present at this session and I extend my congratulations to all award recipients. Reflecting on my early understanding of journalism, I note that journalism and literature were once considered deeply interconnected, with many editors in the past being eminent literary figures. Referring to writers such as Maxim Gorky, I emphasize that literature and writing play a vital role in shaping public consciousness. Quoting Joseph Stalin, I remark, ‘Writers are engineers of the soul,’ and I also recall Oscar Wilde’s observation that ‘journalism is unreadable and literature is not read,’ highlighting the evolving relationship between the two fields. I underline the profound influence of literature in shaping societies, from India’s freedom movement to global events like the French Revolution. Citing thinkers such as Herbert Spencer and Sakharam Ganesh Deuskar, and quoting Ramdhari Singh Dinkar, I state that literature often guides politics when it declines. I also cite Munshi Premchand, stating that literature is not merely a reflection of politics but a guiding force.” He concluded by highlighting India’s progress in infrastructure, energy, and technology, and thanked Dainik Jagran for organizing the event.
Sharing his message, Shri Basant Rathore, Senior Vice President, Brand & Strategy at Dainik Jagran, said, “Dainik Jagran has always remained committed to the promotion and growth of the Hindi language. The ‘Dainik Jagran Kriti Samman’ initiative has been created to recognize and encourage excellence in Hindi writing, especially honouring authors whose works have featured in the bestseller list. Dainik Jagran Hindi Bestseller also serves as a credible and singular system for tracking the popularity and sales of Hindi books published in the country. Through this initiative, the Hindi literary world not only gains visibility of emerging young writers and their work, but it also creates opportunities for new publishers to establish their presence in the mainstream. I extend heartfelt congratulations to all winners and publishers of the Dainik Jagran Kriti Samman 2025.”
The ceremony reflected Dainik Jagran’s continued dedication to promoting Hindi literature through its “Hindi Hain Hum” campaign. Through this initiative, quarterly bestseller lists across fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and translation continue to recognise literary excellence while fostering a stronger and more vibrant culture of Hindi reading and writing.
