The President of India Smt. Droupadi Murmu conferred Padma Shri to Dr. Sant Ram Deswal and Shri Harvinder Singh from Haryana, in the field of Literature & Education and Sports respectively, during Civil Investiture Ceremony today.

 

Brief citation about the life and work of the awardees are given below:

 

Dr. Sant Ram Deswal

Dr. Sant Ram Deswal is a luminary in the literary world, acclaimed as an educator, essayist, poet, memoirist, travelogue writer, editor, biographer, folklorist, and distinguished columnist. His profound expertise as a freelance journalist and researcher spans the rich realms of contemporary Hindi literature, Haryanvi literature, and the folk traditions of Haryana.

 

Born on 24^th April, 1955 in Kherka Gujjar, a small village in the Jhajjar district of Haryana, Dr. Deswal hails from an illiterate farming family, but he earned postgraduate degrees in both Hindi and English literature, alongside a certificate in French. He further pursued a law degree (LL.B.), a postgraduate diploma in Journalism and Mass Communication, and advanced studies, culminating in an M.Phil. and Ph.D. in Hindi literature. He is currently undertaking a D.Litt. in Hindi literature.

 

Dr. Deswal was a flag bearer of literary and cultural activities right from his college days.He was student editor of college and university magazines. His creative writing journey has continued for the past 50 years, enriching the corpus of Hindi literature. His works have become important readings for scholars, researchers, and readers alike. His essays offer deep insights into cultural heritage, societal dynamics, and human values. He has authored more than two dozen books, including 8 books of 'Lalit Nibandhas' of new genre. His literature has also been the subject of research underscoring his stature in the field. In journalism, he has been a regular columnist, writing extensively on contemporary issues.

 

Beyond his literary achievements, Dr. Deswal's contributions to social service have had a lasting impact. His involvement in social service, particularly through the National Service Scheme (NSS), has earned him the "Best Program Officer" award twice. He organised several camps and actively participated in social awareness and reforms programmes, such as dowry eradication, girl child infanticide, untouchability, gender inequality, illiteracy etc. A notable example is the village of Jagdishpur in Sonipat district, Haryana, which achieved total literacy under his leadership.

 

Dr. Deswal has garnered numerous prestigious awards, accolades, and honours including the 'Mahakavi Surdas Aajeevan Sahitya Sadhana Samman' (2018), the 'Jankavi Mehar Singh Samman' (2014), Lok Aalok (2005) and Ankahe Dard (2011) received the Best Book Award from the Haryana Sahitya Avam Sanskriti Academy. He has also been honored with the 'Babu Bal Mukund Gupt Sahitya Samman,' 'Lok Sahitya Shiromani Samman', 'Sarvottam Patrakarita Award', 'Lok Sahitya Anuvad Puruskar' (Sahitya Academy Delhi) and many more. His exceptional contributions to social causes have been acknowledged with recognition from the Government of India, the Honble Governor of Haryana and the Government of Haryana.

 

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Shri Harvinder Singh

Shri Harvinder Singh is an accomplished Indian para-archer known for his remarkable achievements on the international stage. He has made history as the first-ever Indian para- archer to win medals for India in both the Paralympics and the Asian Para Games. His contributions have significantly elevated the recognition of para-archery in India and inspired a new generation of athletes.

 

Born on 25^th February, 1991, in a remote village in Haryana, Shri Harvinder Singh faced adversity from an early age when an adverse reaction to an injection during childhood resulted in a permanent disability in his left lower limb. However, his determination and perseverance led him to archery, a journey he began in 2012 under the guidance of coach Mr. Jiwanjot Singh Teja. His international career took off in 2017, and within a year, he made history by winning India’s first-ever gold medal in para-archery at the 2018 Asian Para Games in Jakarta, Indonesia. He secured the top position in the Men's Individual Recurve Archery (Open category), marking a significant milestone in his sporting career.

 

Shri Harvinder Singh continued his historic achievements by winning a bronze medal at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, becoming the first Indian archer to earn a Paralympic medal. In 2022, he added another bronze medal to his record in the Men's Team Recurve Archery event at the Asian Para Games in Hangzhou, China. His most defining moment came at the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games, where he won a gold medal in the Men's Recurve Archery (Open category), securing India's first-ever gold in the sport at the Paralympics. This victory solidified his legacy as a trailblazer in Indian para-archery. Apart from his sporting excellence, he is also an academic achiever. He completed his Master’s degree in Economics from the Department of Economics, Punjabi University, Patiala. Following this, he pursued a PhD in Economics, further demonstrating his dedication to education alongside his sporting career.

 

Shri Harvinder Singh’s extraordinary achievements have been recognized with numerous honors. He was awarded the prestigious Arjuna Award in 2021 for his outstanding contributions to para-archery. In 2022, the Haryana government honored him with the Bhim Award for his excellence in sports.

 

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Hindi version please click here.

 

(Release ID: 2131791)