Vyas Samman

Professor Ramdarash Mishra and Dr Narendra Kohli were conferred with the Vyas Samman on 23 May 2013 for the year 2011 and 2012 respectively. Professor Ramdarash Mishra (89) was honoured with the award for his collection of poems Aam ke Patte published in 2004. The collection of poems has tried to establish a relationship of man with ordinary objects like pen and table and has reminded their unnoticed importance in human life. Dr Narendra Kohli (73) was honoured for his historical novel Na Bhooto Na Bhavishyati published in 2004. The book has portrayed Swami Vivekananda, the culture of his time and his quest to be a sanyasi for National Unity. The award was presented by Professor Surya Prasad Dixit, a noted scholar of Hindi and the Chairman of the Selection Committee.

About Vyas Samman

Vyas Samman was instituted by the K.K. Birla Foundation in 1991 and is awarded annually in recognition of the hindi literary work published in past 10 years in genres like plays, novels, poetry, short stories, critiques and others. The award carries 2.5 lakh rupees and a citation and a plaque.

National Florence Nightingale Award 2013

The President of India Pranab Mukherjee presented National Florence Nightingale Award 2013 to 35 nursing professionals for their services with devotion, sincerity, dedication and compassion in New Delhi on 12 May 2013. The awards were given on the occasion of international Nurses Day. The Florence Nightingale Award was instituted by the Health Ministry to appreciate the selfless services rendered by Nurses with devotion, sincerity, dedication and compassion. The Award carries 50000 rupees cash, a certificate, a citation certificate and a Medal. This award would inspire nursing professionals all over India to encourage them to join this noble profession and provide better healthcare service to the people.The National Florence Nightingale Award is given to the outstanding nursing personnel employed in Central, State/UTs. Nurses working in Government, Voluntary Organizations, Mission institutions and private institutions can apply with due recommendation of concerned State Government. Altogether 272 nurses have been decorated with this award by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare so far.

Man Booker International Prize 2013

American writer Lydia Davis won 2013 Man Booker International Prize for her innovative and influential writing. The winner of the Prize was announced at the awards ceremony at Victoria and Albert Museum in London on 22 may 2013. This was the fifth Man Booker International Prize. Lydia Davis is a professor of creative writing at the University of Albany. She is also an accomplished translator. Her works include The End of the Story and Varieties of Disturbance. Lydia Davis is also known for her work as a translator of French literature and philosophy, most notably of Marcel Proust and Gustave Flaubert. Her translations led her to be named a Chevalier of the Order of Arts and Letters by the French government. Well-known Kannada author UR Ananthamurthy was the only Indian to be shortlisted for the prestigious award.

The Man Booker International Prize recognises one writer for his or her achievement in fiction. Worth 60000 ponds, the prize is awarded every two years to a living author who has published fiction either originally in English or whose work is generally available in translation in the English language. The winner is chosen solely at the discretion of the judging panel and there are no submissions from publishers. The Man Booker International Prize is significantly different from the annual Man Booker Prize for Fiction. In seeking out literary excellence, the judges consider a writer’s body of work rather than a single novel.

Gershwin Prize

US singer-songwriter Carole King became the first woman to receive the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song. The President of America, Barack Obama conferred upon her, the Gershwin Prize that is given as a lifetime achievement in popular music.

The award was given away at the White House in Washington. Carole King is 71 years of age. She is known most popularly for her hit songs such as Aretha Franklin’s (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman. Carole King has won the Grammy Award four times. She was the co-writer of her first number 1 hit song in 1960. The song was Will You Love Me Tomorrow which was recorded by The Shirelles. She became the first solo artist to sell over 10 million copies of a single album with 1971 release, Tapestry.

About the Gershwin Prize

• The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song, also known as, Gershwin Prize is conferred upon the performer or composer for lifetime contribution to popular music.

• The award was created in 2007 by the Library of Congress.

• Gershwin Prize is named after brothers- George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin, both of whom contributed to popular music.

• First recipient of this award was Paul Simon. Other awardees of this prize are Stevie Wonder (2008) and Sir Paul McCartney (2009).

UNA-USA’s Champion for Global Change Award

The Pakistani activist, Malala Yousafzai (15) was selected for UNA-USA’s Global Leadership Award called Champion for Global Change Award for 2013, in the month of May 2013. Malala Yousafzai was shot in 2012 by Taliban for promotion of girl education. She will receive the Champion for Global Change Award for 2013 at Gotham Hall on 6 November 2013 in the event which will be hosted by UN Foundation and benefits UN Foundation and the United Nations Association of the USA (UNA-USA)’s Global Classrooms Model UN programme. It was declared on 20 May 2013 that Malala will receive the UNA-USA’s Global Leadership Award for advocating education as well as empowerment of girls across the world. In 2012, the UN Secretary, General Ban Ki-moon had declared 10 November as the Malala Day. She was also given the title of daughter of the United Nations. UN Foundation as well as UNA-USA, together represents a single largest network of American supporters of UN.

List of awardees selected for UNA-USA’s Global Leadership Award 2013:

• Malala Yousafzai for advocating education of girls and empowerment of girls

• Front-line polio workers for commitment to vaccine those who have threat of contracting polio

• 10x10 for efforts to make sure that all girls receive education

• GE Africa for helping the countries in Africa on challenges to meet the demands of water and clean energy