The Srilal Shukla IFFCO literary award was given for the first time to the renowned litterateur Vidya Sagar Nautial by Union Agriculture and Cooperative Minister Mr Sharad Pawar in a function in New Deli on Thursday. Praising Nautial for his contributions to Hindi literature the Minister said that Iffco has done a great job by honouring him.
Recalling his relationship with Shrilal Shukla, Pawar said that in my last trip to Lucknow I had extensive discussions with him on society, literature and culture. He thanked Namber Singh, the president of selection committee for choosing the most appropriate candidate in Nautial.
Echoing Iffco Managing Director U S Awasthi’s views he said that culture could not be missing from agriculture. The different seasons and stages of crop growth fill a farmer’s heart with all kind of feelings and emotions. Their life is fodder for creations in the heart of litterateurs, he added.
He also used the opportunity to admire Iffco for its growth. When we talk of cooperatives, iffco comes to our mind as it is foremost cooperative. It has helped country realize the goal of green revolution supplying fertilizers to farmers. Coming up with innovative ideas such as farmers’ insurance and Kisan Sanchar, Iffco is bound to help in country’s march to prosperity, Pawar added.
He also suggested that Iffco should embark upon the job of translating quality literary work from local and regional languages into Hindi.
Namber Singh, the icon of Hindi literature and the Chairman of selection committee dwelt at length on the literary genius of Vidya Sagar Nautial. According to him Nautial is not merely a writer on the life of farmers but he has spent years in Bareli jail fighting for social causes.
Iffco Managing Director U S Awasthi thanked Sh Sharad Pawar for finding time when the Parliament is in session. “ Sharadji wondered how a fertilizer manufacturer would be interested in literature, When I told him that culture could not be divorced from agriculture. He agreed to come for the function” , Awasthi added. Recounting Iffco’s efforts at strengthening the literary traditions of nation Mr Awasthi said that we use Hindi or local languages in all our offices across India.
We organize Hindi Sammelans and are willing to be in the forefront of efforts aimed at fostering the linguistic growth in the country. Farmers after all are not heartless machines, Awasthi said.