The National Vanmali Katha Samman Ceremony 2026, held in memory of eminent storyteller, educationist, and thinker Shri Jagannath Prasad Choubey ‘Vanmali’, concluded with distinction in Bhopal after a vibrant three-day literary celebration. Hosted at SCOPE Global Skills University and Rabindranath Tagore University, the national event was organized by the Vanmali Srijan Peeth and brought together leading writers, critics, educationists, and students from across the country for an engaging exchange of ideas, performances, and contemporary storytelling.
The ceremony was presided over by Pratibha Ray, the Jnanpith award-winning Odia writer, and honoured distinguished authors across categories. Mridula Garg was conferred the Vanmali Katha Shiromani Samman, while Alka Saraogi received the National Vanmali Katha Samman. Both laureates were honoured with a cash prize of INR 1,00,000 along with a shawl, coconut, and citation.
Other recognitions included the Vanmali Katha Alochana Samman for Mahesh Darpan, the Vanmali Katha Madhya Pradesh Samman for Urmila Shirish, the Vanmali Yuva Katha Samman for Kunal Singh, the Vanmali Kathetar Samman for Yatindra Mishra, and the Vanmali Digital Sahitya Avdaan Samman for Anjum Sharma.
The inaugural evening opened with a soulful Kabir singing performance by Prahlad Singh Tipaniya, recipient of the Padma Shri, and his ensemble, setting a reflective tone for the festival. The second day featured readings by Mridula Garg, Alka Saraogi, and Pratibha Ray, followed by a thought-provoking session on “Literature in the Digital Age – Reader Transformation and New Relevance.” In this interactive dialogue, Anjum Sharma engaged students in a discussion on changing literary cultures in the digital era.
The evening concluded with a musical presentation by students of the Tagore National School of Drama, who performed poetic works by Suryakant Tripathi Nirala, Nagarjun, Kunwar Narayan, and Santosh Choubey, interwoven with folk-inspired spring compositions. The Rangsheersh Theatre Group also staged Choubey’s acclaimed story “Magar Shakespeare Ko Yaad Rakhna,” which resonated strongly with the audience.
The final day featured readings by Urmila Shirish, Kunal Singh, and Mahesh Darpan, followed by a panel discussion titled “Sensibilities of Contemporary Young Fiction and the Social Landscape.” The discussion brought together Geetashree, Sanjay Shepherd, and Kaifi Hashmi, who reflected on emerging literary voices and shifting social narratives.
In his closing address, Santosh Choubey, National President of the Vanmali Srijan Peeth, emphasized that literature must cultivate a humane understanding of technology rather than imitate it blindly. “These awards,” he noted, “represent an effort to reaffirm democratic and humanistic values in contemporary fiction. Literature is the sensitive memory of society, and keeping it alive is a collective responsibility.”
The festival also witnessed the release of several publications, including Vanmali Katha magazine, Vanmali Vaarta, Dus Kahaniyan by Urmila Shirish, Anunad, and Ragmala. With wide participation and interdisciplinary engagement, the National Vanmali Katha Samman Ceremony 2026 reaffirmed its place as a distinguished national platform celebrating literature and cultural dialogue.
