Karapurkar, Aiya get Sahitya Akademi awards

Panaji: Rajeshree Karapurkar (top) has bagged the Sahitya Akademi’s Bal Sahitya Puraskar 2019 while Hemant Aaiya has won the Yuva Puraskar for 2019 in Konkani.

Karapurkar, a resident of Margao, is a famed name in the field of children’s literature. A teacher by profession, she has a number of books to her credit. She has won the award for her children’s story collection titled ‘Chitkulya Chinkichye Vishaal Vishwa’.

Aaiya, who hails from Loliem in Canacona, has bagged the award for his collection of short stories.

The awards were announced at the executive board meeting of Sahitya Akademi held at Agartala under the chairmanship of president Chandrashekar Kambar where they approved a selection of 22 writers.

The awards, which include an engraved copper plaque and a cheque of Rs 50,000, will be presented at a special function to be held on November 14, 2019.

Yuva Puraskars were also announced by the Akademi on Friday for writings in 23 regional languages.