The Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited (IFFCO), the country’s leading cooperative in the fertiliser sector, has announced the recipients of its prestigious literary honours for the year 2025. Eminent Hindi writer and novelist Maitreyi Pushpa has been selected for the IFFCO Sahitya Samman 2025, while Ankita Jain has been chosen for the IFFCO Yuva Sahitya Samman 2025 for her book Oh Re! Kisan, which highlights the realities of agrarian life.
The awardees were selected by a jury chaired by senior litterateur Chandrakanta. Other members of the selection committee included noted writers and critics Nasira Sharma, Anant Vijay, Yatindra Mishra, Utkarsh Shukla, and Dr. Nalin Vikas. The committee evaluated literary excellence with special emphasis on works that reflect rural society and agricultural concerns.
Maitreyi Pushpa was born on November 30, 1944, in Sikurra village of Aligarh district and spent her early years in Khilli village of Jhansi district. She pursued her postgraduate studies in Hindi literature from Bundelkhand College, Jhansi. Over the decades, she has emerged as one of the most influential voices in contemporary Hindi literature, known for her nuanced portrayal of rural life, women’s experiences, and social change.
Her major short story collections include Chinhaar, Goma Hasti Hai, Lalmaniyaan Tatha Anya Kahaniyan, Chhaanh, Piyari Ka Sapna, and Samagra Kahaniyan. Her novels include Smritidansh, Betwa Behti Rahi, Idannamam, Chak, Jhoola Nat, Alma Kabootari, Aganpakhi, Vision, Kahi Isuri Faag, Triya Hath, Gunah-Begunah, and Farishtay Niklay.
She has also written autobiographies, essays on women’s issues, drama, poetry, memoirs, and reportage. Several of her works have been adapted for television, including the telefilm Vasumati Ki Chitthi and the serial Manda Har Yug Mein.
Maitreyi Pushpa has received numerous literary honours, including the Premchand Samman, Sarojini Naidu Award, Mahatma Gandhi Samman of the Uttar Pradesh Hindi Sansthan, the Sahityakar Samman of the Hindi Academy, and several state and national awards for her contribution to Hindi literature.
The IFFCO Yuva Sahitya Samman 2025 has been awarded to Ankita Jain, a former research associate and assistant professor who later pursued writing full time. Her debut book Aisi Vaisi Aurat became a Jagran–Nielsen bestseller.
Her other notable works include Main Se Maa Tak, Baheliye, Oh Re! Kisan, the novel Mohalla Salimbagh, and the children’s novel Aatanki Mor. Her columns and essays have appeared in leading media platforms, and her stories have also been broadcast on radio.
Beyond writing, Ankita Jain is actively engaged in agriculture and rural enterprise. She is a director of the agro-manufacturing firm Vaidik Vatika and a founding member and director of Jai Jungle Farmers Producer Company, where she works closely with tribal women’s self-help groups on forest produce-based livelihoods. She is also a professional sculpture painting artist and runs her art venture under the name Art and Ankita.
Instituted in 2011, the IFFCO Sahitya Samman is awarded annually to a Hindi writer whose work significantly reflects rural and agricultural life. Past recipients include Vidyasagar Nautiyal, Shekhar Joshi, Sanjeev, Mithileshwar, Ashtbhuja Shukla, Kamalakant Tripathi, Ramdev Dhurandhar, Shivmurti, Jayanandan, Madhukankaria, and Chandrakishore Jaiswal. The award carries a cash prize of Rs 11 lakh along with a citation and a memento.
Under the IFFCO Yuva Sahitya Samman, the recipient is awarded a cash prize of Rs 2.5 lakh along with a citation and a memento.
Both Maitreyi Pushpa and Ankita Jain will be conferred the awards at a formal ceremony to be held in New Delhi on December 30, 2025.
