IFFCO Sahitya Samman 2025: The leading cooperative organization in the fertilizer sector, IFFCO, awarded the ‘IFFCO Sahitya Samman’ for the year 2025 to the fiction writer Smt. Maitreyi Pushpa. The ‘IFFCO Yuva Sahitya Samman’ was also awarded to Smt. Ankita Jain for her book ‘Oh Re! Kisan’. The awards were presented by IFFCO Chairman Shri Dilip Sanghani at a ceremony held at Kamani Auditorium, New Delhi on December 30, 2025.
Smt. Maitreyi Pushpa was born on November 30, 1944, in Sikurra village of Aligarh district. Her early life was spent in Khilli village of Jhansi district. She completed her M.A. (Hindi Literature) from Bundelkhand College, Jhansi.
Her major works include ‘Chinhhar’, ‘Goma Hansti Hai’, ‘Lalmaniyan Tatha Anya Kahaniyan’, ‘Goma Hansti Hai’, ‘Chhanh’, ‘Piyari Ka Sapna’, ‘10 Pratinidhi Kahaniyan’, ‘Samagra Kahaniyan’ (short story collections); ‘Smritidansh’, ‘Betwa Bahti Rahi’, ‘Idannamam’, ‘Chak’, ‘Jhoola Nat’, ‘Alma Kabootari’, ‘Aganpakhi’, ‘Vijan’, ‘Kahi Isuri Phag’, ‘Triya Hath’, ‘Gunah-Begunah’, ‘Farishte Nikle’ (novels); ‘Kasturi Kundal Basai’, ‘Gudiya Bhitar Gudiya’ (autobiography); ‘Khuli Khidkiyan’, ‘Suno Malik Suno’, ‘Charcha Hamara’, ‘Awaaz’, ‘Tabdeel Nigahein’ (feminist discourse); ‘Mandrakanta’ (play); ‘Lakeerein’ (poetry collection); ‘Wah Safar Tha Ki Mukam Tha’ (memoirs); ‘Fighter Ki Diary’ (reportage). The telefilm ‘Vasumati ki Chitthi’ was broadcast based on the story ‘Faisla’, and the serial ‘Manda Har Yug Mein’ was broadcast based on ‘Idannamama’.
She have been honored with the ‘SAARC Literary Award’, ‘Sarojini Naidu Award’ from ‘The Hunger Project’ (Panchayati Raj), ‘Mangala Prasad Paritoshik’, ‘Premchand Samman’, ‘Sahityakar Samman’ from Hindi Academy, ‘Veer Singh Judev Award’ from Madhya Pradesh Sahitya Parishad, ‘Kathakram Samman’, ‘Shashwati Samman’, and ‘Mahatma Gandhi Samman’ from Uttar Pradesh Hindi Sansthan, among others.
Ms. Ankita, a former research associate and assistant professor, became a writer. Her first book, “Aisi Vaisi Aurat,” was a Jagran-Nielsen bestseller. Her other books, “Main Se Maa Tak,” “Baheliye,” and “O Re! Kisan,” the novel ‘Mohalla Salimbagh’, and the children’s novel “Atanki Mor” have also been well-received.
Ankita wrote the popular column “Ma-in-Making” for Prabhat Khabar and The Lallantop. Besides writing articles for NBT Gold, India Today, Aha Zindagi, and Ichowk, she has also written editorials for various magazines and newspapers. Her stories were broadcast for two years on Big FM’s shows “Yaadon Ka Idiot Box” and “UP Ki Kahani”.
Ankita is a director of the agro-manufacturing firm “Vedic Vatika” and a founding member and director of “Jai Jungle Farmers Producer Company,” where she works with tribal self-help group women on forest produce. Along with writing and farming, Ankita is a professional artist and teacher of Russian sculpture painting, and now runs her own art business under the name ‘Art and Ankita’. She creates various beautiful paintings on commercial orders and conducts sculpture painting workshops in different cities.
This award, instituted by IFFCO in 2011, is given annually to a Hindi writer whose works primarily depict rural and agricultural life. Previously, this award has been bestowed upon Vidyasagar Nautiyal, Shekhar Joshi, Sanjeev, Mithileshwar, Ashtabhuja Shukla, Kamlakant Tripathi, Ramdev Dhurandhar, Ramdhari Singh Diwakar, Mahesh Katare, Ranendra, Shivmurti, Jaynandan, Madhu Kankaria, and Chandrakishore Jaiswal. The award includes a memento, a certificate of appreciation, and a check for eleven lakh rupees.
The selection committee, chaired by senior writer Smt. Chandrakanta, selected Smt. Maitreyi Pushpa in recognition of her extensive literary contributions focusing on the depiction of rural and agricultural life and the changing realities of India. The jury included Smt. Nasira Sharma, Shri Anant Vijay, Shri Yatindra Mishra, Dr. Nalin Vikas, and Shri Utkarsh Shukla.
In his message, IFFCO Managing Director Shri K.J. Patel congratulated Maitreyi Pushpa, stating that she is a writer with deep social concerns. He said that she has skillfully portrayed life in Bundelkhand through her writing. Referring to Maitreyi Pushpa’s works, Shri Patel said that in her narratives, she has tried to capture the nuances of rural life and the lives of women.
The chairperson of the selection committee, Chandrakanta, provided detailed information about the selection process. Selection committee member Shri Anant Vijay read the citations for Maitreyi Pushpa and Ankita Jain. The chief guest of the program, IFFCO Chairman Shri Dilip Sanghani, expressed his happiness at honoring Smt. Maitreyi Pushpa and Ankita Jain and described their writing as extremely important. He said that the work done by Maitreyi Pushpa in giving voice to the realities of society through writing inspired by her personal experiences is rare. He added that Ankita has immense potential.
On this occasion, a theatrical performance of Maitreyi Pushpa’s story ‘Gunahgar’ (The Guilty One), directed by Ajay Kumar, was presented by the Flying Feathers Art Association. A large number of literature enthusiasts, including teachers and students, attended the ceremony.
