Adaranjali-2025: Honoring Luminaries in Journalism, Literature, and Music
Celebrating Excellence at Adaranjali-2025
Munish Sood
MANDI:
The Hemkant Memorial Trust in Mandi is set to honor four remarkable individuals from journalism, literature, and music at the upcoming Adaranjali-2025 ceremony, scheduled for December 25. This event commemorates the 83rd birth anniversary of the esteemed journalist, educator, and art enthusiast, Hemkant Katyayan.
The annual awards are established to recognize the significant contributions of Hemkant Katyayan to journalism, education, and culture, which have profoundly influenced the intellectual landscape of Himachal Pradesh. The awards will be presented during a formal ceremony organized by the Trust.
Details about the event were shared by Siddharth Katyayan, the son of the late Hemkant Katyayan and the convener of the ceremony. He mentioned that the award selection committee, led by Trust president Nirmala Katyayan, has finalized this year's award recipients.
The Hemkant Katyayan Memorial Journalism Inspiration Award for 2025 will be awarded to senior journalist Pandit Krishna Bhanu, a prominent figure in Himachal journalism. The Literary Service Award will go to veteran writer Krishna Kumar ‘Nutan’, while the Music-Art Award will be presented posthumously to the late Piyush Swami and jointly to his disciple, Umesh Bhardwaj, the current director of Sangeet Sadan.
Pandit Krishna Bhanu is recognized as a pivotal figure in Himachal Pradesh's journalism scene. He began his career in Bhehna and later moved to Mandi, where he persevered through challenges to achieve success. Notably, he was the first journalist from Mandi district to establish a significant presence in Shimla, the state capital.
Throughout his career, he served as the state head of the Hindi daily Veer Pratap and made notable contributions to leading national newspapers such as Rashtriya Sahara, Dainik Bhaskar, Amar Ujala, and Ajit Samachar. His influence also extended to electronic media.
Pandit Bhanu has held numerous prestigious positions, including vice-president of the Haryana Vidhan Sabha Press Gallery Committee, president of the Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha Press Gallery, and has been a long-serving president of the Shimla Press Club. He has also contributed to the State Juvenile Justice Board and the Himachal Journalists Federation.
Krishna Kumar ‘Nutan’, who will receive the Literary Service Award, is celebrated for his popular Hindi film song “Gaya Pattharon Ne”. He spent a significant part of his career in Mumbai, collaborating with legendary figures like Guru Dutt and lyricist Gulzar. His literary achievements have earned him several awards, including the Guleria Award for his book “Itihas Sakshi Hai”.
In the realm of music, the Trust will honor the legacy of the late Piyush Swami, a distinguished music scholar from Mandi. After earning his M.A. in Music from Prayag Sangeet Samiti, he dedicated his life to music education, founding Sangeet Sadan in Mandi to provide structured music training.
Following his passing, Umesh Bhardwaj, a prominent disciple, took over the management of Sangeet Sadan. The institution has been a beacon of quality education in vocal and instrumental music for 46 years. Umesh, who has a rich musical background, began his formal training at Sangeet Sadan and has significantly contributed to the musical community in Mandi.
Umesh Bhardwaj and Sangeet Sadan will receive the Excellence in Art Award for their dedication to nurturing musical talent. The Hemkant Memorial Trust emphasizes that the Adaranjali-2025 ceremony aims to honor excellence, commitment, and lifelong contributions to society through creative and intellectual endeavors, while preserving the legacy of Hemkant Katyayan.