Renowned Manipuri writer Haobam Nalini has been awarded the prestigious Sahitya Akademi Award 2025 in the Manipuri language category for her acclaimed short story collection Kanglamdriba Eephut.
The Sahitya Akademi announced this year’s winners on Monday, recognizing outstanding literary contributions across 24 languages. The awards span multiple genres, including poetry, novels, essays, memoirs, and short stories.
Nalini’s work stood out among entries in the Manipuri category and was selected by a distinguished jury comprising H. Nani Kumar Singha, Irungbam Basanta Singh, and Mongsatabam Tuleshwari Devi. Her collection has been widely appreciated for its depth of storytelling and cultural resonance.
As part of the honor, awardees will receive a cash prize of ₹1 lakh, along with a copper plaque and a shawl. The official award ceremony is scheduled to take place on March 31 in New Delhi.
Notably, Haobam Nalini is among only three writers from the Northeast to be recognized this year. The other recipients from the region include Devabrat Das for the Assamese language and Sahaisuli Brahma for the Bodo language.
The recognition highlights the growing prominence of regional literature from Northeast India on the national stage, bringing greater attention to diverse voices and narratives from the region.
