NZ-based journalist Rohit Kumar 'Happy' is on cloud nine after being conferred with the National Nirmal Verma Award for contribution to the development of the Hindi language.
Rohit recently travelled to India to take part in the award ceremony. The Madhya Pradesh Government has given him this award at an event at Ravindra Sabhagan Kendra in Bhopal. The function was organised on the occasion of Hindi Diwas (September 14).
Kumar, who edits Bharat-Darshan, the world's first online Hindi literary magazine since 1996, said, “I can’t express my happiness on being honoured with the National Nirmal Verma Award. The event was graced by dignitaries such as the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh Shivraj Singh Chauhan and Madhya Pradesh culture minister Usha Thakur. The event was well attended and saw a gathering of around 1000 people."
Kumar reveals that awards like these are a source of inspiration for him to do better work. He says, "This award has given me a big boost. It has instilled a lot of energy in me to do better for Hindi literature which I am passionate about."
During his current Indian visit, Kumar has also been part of many literary events. As part of them, he has met literary personalities from various countries, including Japan and the United Kingdom.
"It feels like a literary travel trip to India this time. I am enjoying every bit of it," says Rohit.
The 54-year-old, who lives in Auckland, has already published books such as New Zealand Ki Hindi Patrakarita Ka Itihas (2020), New Zealand Ki Hindi Yatra (Published by Kendriya Hindi Sansthan, Agra, India, 2021) as well as Prashant Ki Lok Kathayein (Published by Kendriya Hindi Sansthan, Agra, India, 2021). He has been relentlessly working to promote Hindi literature in NZ.
He even won first prize in the Hindi Essay Contest held by the High Commission of India and Wellington Hindi School. He was awarded recently at a function held at Mahatma Gandhi Centre.
Before coming to NZ three decades ago, Rohit, who hails from Kaithal in Haryana, had a bachelor's degree from Kurukshetra University and a diploma in journalism.
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