The Sahitya Akademi, an autonomous body under the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, has announced the honorees for the “Sahitya Akademi Award 2025,” which recognizes twenty-four distinguished writers across various Indian languages. The award will be bestowed upon Dr. Nalini Haobam for her short story collection “KangLamdriba Eephut,” written in Manipuri. This collection previously earned the “Yendrebam Surlata Purushkar Award 2020” from the Sahitya Seva Samiti in Kakching.
The Sahitya Akademi Award is a prestigious recognition presented to notable litterateurs in various fields such as poetry, novels, essays, and memoirs, with juries designated for each language. This year’s jury members for Manipuri include Prof. H. Nanikumar Sinha, Irungbam Basanta Singh, and Dr. Mongsatabam Tuleshwari Devi. The award comprises a cash prize of one lakh rupees, a copper plaque, and a shawl, with the presentation ceremony scheduled for March 31 in New Delhi.
Dr. Nalini Haobam, born in 1956 in Kangabam Leikai, Imphal, has significantly contributed to Manipuri literature with five published books, including her awarded collection published in 2019. She has also produced poetry and drama, with her latest poetry collection, “Nungsi Thoiba,” released in 2025 in multiple languages, including English and Manipuri. Dr. Haobam has received several awards for her work, including the “Rajkumar Mahavir Singh Khorirol Mana” in 2022 and multiple accolades for her poetry collections.
Her two early works are included as textbooks at multiple universities, and Dr. Haobam has published numerous essays and short stories in both English and Manipuri. She has actively participated in literary seminars and events organized by Sahitya Akademi in Manipur and beyond. Educationally, she holds an MA and PhD in Manipuri, and has served as a teacher before her retirement as an Associate Professor at DM College of Teachers Education. Additionally, she is a lifetime member of several literary organizations and continues to contribute to the literary community.