Distinguished Litterateur Shri Santosh Chaubey Honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the House of Lords in London
Luminary Indian social entrepreneur and educationalist Santosh Choubey, with an illustrious career spanning five decades in literature, culture, education, and technology, received the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award at the House of Lords, London. This distinguished honour was bestowed upon him by Vatayan-UK as part of the International Shikhar Samman for the year 2023. The award ceremony took place during the Indo-European Hindi Mahotsav in London on October 13th. The event was attended by Hon’ble Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank, Member of Parliament and former Education Minister of the Government of India. Hon’ble Shri Deepak Chaudhary, Minister (Coordination), High Commission of India, London, also graced the occasion. Meira Mishra Kaushik, OBE, held the position of President for Vatayan – UK.
An accomplished scholar who has excelled in both the Indian Engineering Service and Indian Administrative Service, Chancellor of Dr. C.V. Raman University and Rabindranath Tagore University and Director of Vishwarang, Shri Santosh Choubey is a one-of-a-kind mentor to many students and aspirants. Furthermore, he holds prominent positions as the Chairman of the Vanamali Srijan Peeth, Tagore International Literature and Art Centre and AISECT Network.
The selection committee of the award highlighted Shri Santosh Choubey’s relentless efforts in championing the cause of Hindi literature and language on both national and international platforms, through his writings and diverse literary and cultural initiatives. Santosh Choubey is a polymath, revered for his creative prowess as a poet, storyteller, novelist, editor, and translator. His literary oeuvre encompasses six acclaimed collections of short stories and three novels, which include titles such as ‘Light coloured shirt’, ‘9 Bindu Ka Khel’, ‘Kya Pata Comrade Mohan’, and ‘Jaltarang’. Additionally, his four volumes of poetry, including ‘Kahin Aur Sach Honge Sapne’, have garnered significant attention. He conceptualised Pustak Yatra, which stands as a distinctive initiative dedicated to the promotion of books and the cultivation of reading habits in rural and semi-urban India. Over the course of the last three decades, Santosh Chaubey has been honoured with the esteemed Vanmali Katha Samman, a testament to his steadfast support for literature and Indian culture.
In addition to this, he has played a pivotal role in establishing a range of pivotal institutions, including the Center of Excellence, Translation Center, Diaspora Literature Center, Tagore National Drama School, Foreign Language Center, Tagore World Arts and Culture Center, Folk Art Center, and Vanmali Srijan Center.
Notably, his translations of eminent authors like Terry Eagleton, Frederic Jameson, and Walter Benjamin have been widely acknowledged. His editorial contributions, including the comprehensive ‘Vanmali Samagra’ and three collections of ideological prose, stand as testaments to his literary eminence. As the editor-in-chief of ‘Rang Samvad’, a distinguished interdisciplinary magazine, he has played a pivotal role in fostering the realm of drama and arts. His efforts have also extended to the curation of ‘Katha Madhya Pradesh’, a compendium spotlighting over two hundred storytellers from Madhya Pradesh.
Speaking of the honour given to his work, Shri Santosh Choubey expressed his thoughts saying “Language and culture are the threads that bind us all. Through the power of words, we bridge nations and illuminate shared human experiences. This honour, bestowed upon me, is a testament to the enduring strength of our collective literary heritage. It also is a reminder that our literary endeavours hold the power to unite us all, regardless of our origins. I am deeply humbled and grateful for this honour, which only reinforces my commitment to continue championing the beauty and richness of our cultural mosaic through the written word. “
In an endeavour to champion global storytelling, he orchestrated ‘Vishwarang’, an international initiative aimed at promoting the Hindi language and Indian culture. Today, this endeavour boasts representation from over fifty countries worldwide. Shri Santosh Choubey’s contributions have not gone unnoticed, as he has been the recipient of numerous accolades, including the Dushyant Kumar Award for Poetry, Spandan Critic Award for Criticism, and awards for Translation and Novel from esteemed organizations.
Vatayan UK, along with a constellation of literary, art, and cultural institutions have united in congratulating Santosh Choubey for receiving the ‘International Pinnacle Honour from ‘Vishwarang’. This recognition further cements his status as an iconic figure in the world of literature, arts, education and culture. Divya Mathur, F.R.S.A., the founder of Vatayan, took on the role of Mahotsav Convener. Anil Sharma ‘Joshi’, the President of Global Hindi Parivar, was also in attendance. Dr. Padmesh Gupta, the Managing Director of Oxford Business College, served as the Festival Director.