Anād Kāv Sanmān — Historical Record

The Anād Kāv Sanmān was instituted by The Anād Foundation in 2008 to honour poetic excellence, literary depth, cultural memory, and distinguished contribution to Punjabi and wider Indian literary life.

For legal, statutory, banking, tax, audit, CSR, and formal institutional purposes, the Foundation’s legal name is The Anad Foundation. The form Anād is used as the Foundation’s preferred cultural, scholarly, programme, publication, and public-facing style.

In Memory of Bibi Baljit Kaur Tulsi

The Anād Kāv Sanmān was started in memory of Bibi Baljit Kaur Tulsi, a Punjabi poetess whose memory was honoured through the creation of this literary recognition.

The award was offered to eminent poets by the Tulsi family and included a cash award of ₹2.25 lakh, a citation, and ceremonial honours such as a tāmra-patra / presentation object and shawl or turban, with details varying across award cycles.

Purpose of the Award

The award recognised poets whose work carried literary courage, language-depth, public imagination, cultural memory, and a sustained contribution to poetic expression.

For Anād, poetry is not merely a literary ornament. It is a vessel of memory, pain, humour, resistance, devotion, philosophical searching, moral witness, and the living breath of language.

The Anād Kāv Sanmān therefore formed part of the Foundation’s wider commitment to language, literature, oral expression, public culture, and the conservation of intangible heritage.

Recipients and Historical Notes

2008 — Surjit Patar

The first Anād Kāv Sanmān was conferred upon Surjit Patar, one of the leading voices of modern Punjabi poetry.

The award was conferred on behalf of The Anad Foundation by Dr. Upinderjit Kaur, Cabinet Minister, Punjab, on 8 April 2008 at Stein Auditorium, India Habitat Centre, New Delhi.

On that occasion, eminent poets including Balraj Komal, K. Satchidanandan, Anamika, and Ashok Vajpayeerecited their poems.

2009 — Amarjit Chandan

The second Anād Kāv Sanmān was conferred upon Amarjit Chandan for his seminal contribution to Punjabi poetry and for bringing Punjabi poetry into wider international literary conversation.

The Anād Kāv Tarañg 2009 was presided over by Professor Namvar Singh, Professor Emeritus, Jawaharlal Nehru University and Chancellor, Mahatma Gandhi Antarrashtriya Hindi Vishwavidyalaya.

On this occasion, Paintee, a selection of 35 poems by Amarjit Chandan, was launched.

The distinguished painter Krishen Khanna accepted the Foundation’s invitation to be Chief Guest and conferred the Anād Kāv Sanmān 2009.

2009–2010 — Navtej Bharati and Ajmer Rode

The third Anād Kāv Sanmān, for 2009–2010, was jointly conferred upon Navtej Bharati and Ajmer Rode.

The jury especially noted the significance of their path-breaking work Leela, a major poetic work of more than a thousand pages. The work remains remarkable in Punjabi literary history for its scale, courage, experimentation with the poetic word, cultural memory, everyday existential struggle, and a wider context of mystical humanism.

2010–2011 — Professor Jaswant Singh Neki

The Anād Kāv Sanmān for 2010–2011 was announced for eminent Punjabi poet Professor Jaswant Singh Neki.

The jury noted Professor Neki’s significant contribution to enriching the heritage of spiritual poetry in Punjabi over the long span of his writing. His poetry was recognised for its aesthetic articulation of life-death encounters, the subtle beauty of nature, mystical aspects of human existence, dialogue with the inner self, and the manifestation of divinity in human life.

The jury meeting was held on 19 November 2012 at the office of The Anad Foundation in New Delhi. The jury comprised Professor Satya Pal Gautam as Chair, M. K. Raina, Professor Bhagwan Josh, Manglesh Dabral, Professor Renuka Singh, and Dr. Madan Gopal Singh. Bhāī Baldeep Singh, Founder-Chairman of The Anad Foundation, convened the jury. Japna Kaur Tulsi, Coordinator of the Anād Kāv Sanmān, also participated in the proceedings.

Following the jury decision, the Foundation made efforts over an extended period to hold the award ceremony. Records show that in May 2015, the Foundation was still corresponding with India Habitat Centre to schedule the 4th Anād Kāv Sanmān for Professor Neki, planned as an evening of poetry and music. Proposed dates included the end of May 2015 and, subsequently, early October 2015 at Stein Auditorium. Owing to venue constraints, Professor Neki’s health, travel, and related circumstances, the ceremony was deferred more than once and could not eventually be held during his lifetime. The Foundation retains the announcement, jury record, and subsequent correspondence as part of the institutional memory of the Anād Kāv Sanmān and as a mark of respect to Professor Neki’s poetic contribution.

As part of the preparations and continuing correspondence around the proposed award ceremony, Bhāī Baldeep Singh also photographed Professor Neki in an intimate moment of writing / calligraphy. One such photograph was later used in a public tribute to Professor Neki after his passing. The image is retained in Anād’s memory as a quiet witness to the award that had been announced, prepared for, and pursued, but could not finally be presented during his lifetime.

Archival Document — Jury Record, 19 November 2012

The Foundation retains the signed jury record of the Anād Kāv Sanmān meeting held on 19 November 2012 at The Anad Foundation, New Delhi, announcing the Anād Kāv Sanmān 2010–2011 for Professor Jaswant Singh Neki.

The document records the jury’s appreciation of Professor Neki’s contribution to Punjabi spiritual poetry and bears the signatures of the jury members and convenor. It is preserved as part of the Foundation’s archival record of the Anād Kāv Sanmān.

Signed jury record announcing the Anād Kāv Sanmān 2010–2011 for Professor Jaswant Singh Neki,
dated 19 November 2012, The Anad Foundation, New Delhi.

A dedicated archival page for 2010–2011 — Professor Jaswant Singh Neki preserves the signed jury record, correspondence, preparatory photographs, handwritten poem, portrait / caricature work, mailer, and poetry-card material connected with the award ceremony that could not finally be held during his lifetime.

Related Pages

This section includes archival pages relating to the Anād Kāv Sanmān and related events, including:

• 2008;
• 2008 Review;
• 2009;
• 2009 Review;
• 2010;
• 2010 Review;
• 2010–2011 — Professor Jaswant Singh Neki.

These pages are retained as part of the Foundation’s literary and institutional memory.

Historical Note

The Anād Kāv Sanmān pages belong to an earlier phase of the Foundation’s public literary programming. Their language, formatting, photographs, reviews, names, or event details may reflect the period in which they were first created.

They are preserved as an archival record of the Foundation’s engagement with poetry, language, literature, public culture, and the honouring of distinguished poets.

Current Status

The Anād Kāv Sanmān may be revived, continued, revised, or restructured in the future according to the Foundation’s priorities, donor support, jury recommendations, Board approval, and institutional capacity.

For current award announcements, nominations, jury information, or award-related enquiries, please contact The Anād Foundation.