The Maharashtra Raajya Saahitya – Samskruti Mandal, Mumbai, had organised a programme at Gateway of India recently to honour  litterateurs and writers in Maharashtra as well as outside Maharashtra.

City-based writer Dr. Manik A.V. Bengeri, a music critic and an established multi-lingual writer, was among those honoured with an award and citation for her latest  book  titled ‘Bhartruhari te Avvaiyyar-Saare Ekaaca tatvaace dhanee’. The award comprised a cash prize of Rs.1,00,000.

The 760-page book focuses on moral values which are needed for a healthy society in general and the younger generation in particular. It also focuses on taking the values from Sanskrit literature and all other languages.   Sarvajna and Akkamahadevi of Karnataka are discussed at length and their Vachanas are quoted with meaning in Marathi. Similarly, Veman from Andhra and Tiruvalluvar as well as Avvaiyyar are also included for  their age old values.

Another important factor of this book is that Kannada, Telugu and Tamil verses are put into Devanagari script so that it will be easy for people outside South India to enjoy the literary treasure.

Dr. Manik Bengeri has worked for almost 6 years on this project which has been declared as the ‘Best Literature – Utkrushta Vaangamaya’ by Maharashtra Government.

Meanwhile, the HRD Ministry has selected this book to be kept at Central Govt. Libraries all over India and has given a grant-in-aid of Rs.50,000 to the author.