By Special Correspondent, TwoCircles.net,
Lucknow: The annual awards constituted by the U P State Urdu Academy were given away in Lucknow on Thursday. Senior cabinet minister Naeeemuddin Siddiqui who was the chief guest in his address informed that the state government has tripled the annual state grant to the Urdu Academy in the state.
The awards included Maulana Azad Award of Rs 5 lacs which was awarded to Wali-ul-Haq Ansari from Lucknow who has written over 150 books in Urdu and Persian languages. The Khusrao award carrying a cash prize of Rs 1.5 lacs was given to PP Srivastava from NOIDA. Syed Amin Ashraf from Aligarh received Rs 1 lakh for his contribution to Urdu poetry, Syed Mohammed Ashraf from Budaun received Rs 1 lakh for contribution to Urdu fiction. Prof Abul Kalam Qazami from Aligarh received Rs 1 lakh for his contribution to Urdu criticism and research.
Senior cabinet minister Naseemuddin Siddiqui along with Vice-chairperson of Urdu Academy Tarannum Aqeel and the awardees
Mohsin Khan from Lucknow received Rs 1 lakh for his contribution to child literature and drama. Dr Auasaf Ahmad from NOIDA received an award for his contribution to Science and Economics. Prem Chand award was given to Syed Jaffar Raza.Ubaidullah Nasir and Uma Chakbast received the award carrying a cash prize of Rs 50000 each for their contribution to Urdu journalism through print and electronic media respectively.