Bal Sahitya Puraskar 2025 Winners Announced | Complete List of 24 Award Recipients

The Sahitya Akademi, India’s premier literary institution and an autonomous organization under the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, has made a significant announcement regarding children’s literature in the country. Under the distinguished chairmanship of Sri Madhav Kaushik, the Executive Board convened in its recent meeting to finalize the recipients of the prestigious Bal Sahitya Puraskar 2025.

Complete List of Bal Sahitya Puraskar 2025 Winners

Language-Wise Award Recipients

The following table presents the complete list of 24 distinguished winners of the Bal Sahitya Puraskar 2025, organized by language with their respective works and authors:

Eligibility and Timeline Framework

Publication Period Requirements

The Bal Sahitya Puraskar 2025 specifically recognizes literary excellence in works that were first published during a carefully defined five-year period. The eligibility criteria encompassed books that made their debut between January 1, 2019, and December 31, 2023. This timeframe ensures that the awards acknowledge recent contributions to children’s literature while allowing sufficient time for works to establish their impact and reach among young readers.

Quality Assessment Parameters

The evaluation process considered various factors that contribute to exceptional children’s literature, including narrative quality, age-appropriate content, educational value, cultural relevance, and the ability to engage young minds effectively. The selected works demonstrate outstanding literary merit while successfully addressing the unique needs and interests of their target audience.

Comprehensive Linguistic Representation

The Bal Sahitya Puraskar 2025 showcases the incredible linguistic diversity of Indian children’s literature. The awards span 24 different languages, reflecting the Akademi’s commitment to promoting literary excellence across India’s rich multilingual landscape. Annexure ‘B’ of the official documentation provides detailed information about the jury members whose recommendations formed the basis for these prestigious awards.

Genre Diversity Analysis

The selected works represent a remarkable variety of literary genres, demonstrating the breadth and depth of contemporary Indian children’s literature:

• Poetry Collections: 8 works across languages including Assamese, Dogri, Gujarati, Marathi, Odia, Rajasthani, Santali, and Sindhi
• Short Stories: 6 collections in Bengali, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Konkani, and Maithili
• Novels: 5 works in Malayalam, Nepali, Punjabi, Tamil, and English
• Dramatic Works: 2 plays in Manipuri and one drama in Rajasthani
• Articles: 1 collection in Urdu

Regional Literature Celebration

Each selected work represents not only literary excellence but also the unique cultural and linguistic heritage of its respective region. The diversity of languages included in this year’s awards demonstrates how children’s literature serves as a vital medium for preserving and transmitting cultural values, traditions, and knowledge systems across different communities in India.

Award Structure and Recognition

Prestigious Recognition Package

The Bal Sahitya Puraskar 2025 recipients will receive comprehensive recognition for their outstanding contributions to children’s literature. Each award consists of multiple components designed to honor the literary achievement appropriately:

Physical Recognition: Winners will receive an elegant casket containing an engraved copper plaque, which serves as a lasting symbol of their literary accomplishment and contribution to children’s education and entertainment.

Monetary Award: Along with the symbolic recognition, each recipient will receive a substantial monetary award of Rs. 50,000, acknowledging the economic value of their creative work and supporting their continued literary endeavors.

Special Award Ceremony

The Sahitya Akademi has announced that a special function will be organized at a later date to formally present these awards to the recipients. This ceremony will provide an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of these distinguished writers and highlight the importance of children’s literature in India’s cultural and educational landscape.

Significance of Children’s Literature in Contemporary India

Educational and Cultural Impact

The Bal Sahitya Puraskar plays a crucial role in recognizing and promoting high-quality literature specifically designed for young readers. In an era where digital media increasingly dominates children’s attention, these awards highlight the enduring importance of well-crafted literary works in fostering imagination, creativity, and critical thinking skills among young minds.

Language Preservation and Development

By recognizing excellence across multiple Indian languages, the Bal Sahitya Puraskar 2025 contributes significantly to the preservation and development of regional languages. These awards encourage writers to create compelling content in their native languages, ensuring that children have access to quality literature that reflects their cultural identity and linguistic heritage.