Category: Rishi Samman Awardees

Acharya Ramachandra Pandey, a well-known scholar of jyotish-shastra, was born in Dhaurhara village, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, on July 3, 1949.He was introduced the subject of jyotish-shastra by his father, Pandit Rupnarain Pandey. After his studies, he began teaching first at Central Sanskrit University, Jammu, before joining Kashi Hindu University, Varanasi, as an acharya. About 25 students completed PhD under his guidance. He has presented over 250 research works at national and 25 works at international forum. Among several publications, noted works authored by him include Chandragolvimarsha, Mansagari,Grihalaghav,Muhurthachintamani,Jyotishpraveshika, Lilawati,Suryasidhanta and Krishiparashar. He has been involved with Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri Rashtriya Sanskrit University, University Grants Commission and Guwahati University. He was rewarded with Special Honour by the UP government in 2007, Aryabhat Samman in 2007 by the Rajasthan Government, the President’s Honour in 2009, Bhaskaracharya Samman by Delhi Sanskrit Academy in 2011 and Karpatra Samman in 2019.

Rishi Samman for 2023 was conferred on Acharya Manu Dev Bhattacharya. Acharya Bhattacharya was the former head of Department of Vyakaran, Sampurnanand Sanskrit University, Varanasi. He passed away in 2020. Acharya Manudeva Bhattacharya (1949-2020) was a renowned expert on vyakaran-shastra (grammar) and a famous poet in Sanskrit. He dedicated his entire life to the study, exploration and propagation of Sanskrit. His academic journey took him to the well-known Sanskrit centre, Sampurnanand Sanskrit University, Varanasi. He became famous as an acharya in the department of grammar in the university. He was well known for his contributions at Banaras Hindu University. In his long career of 40 years, Acharya Bhattacharya oversaw the dissertation of over 20 doctoral students. His writings on grammar were published in journals in India and abroad. He has written extensively on vyakaran-darshan, mahakavya (great epic),khanda-kavya and theatre. His works include Vishudhavaibhavam Mahakavyam, Vaishnavavaibhava-mahakavyam, Ramakrishnacharitamritam, Panditarajavaibhavam and Raghunathavaibhavam among others. He has been conferred several honours for his contribution to Vedic literature.

Well-known linguist and scholar, Prof Kapil Kapoor was bestowed with Rishi Samman during the Pandit Motilal Shastri memorial lecture held in New Delhi on September 28,2022. Prof. Kapoor is a former Professor of English, Centre for Linguistics and English (from 1996) and was designated as Concurrent Professor, Special Centre for Sanskrit Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi in 2000 (the only Concurrent Professor at JNU). He has been the Dean of the School of Language, Literature and Culture Studies, JNU, 1996–1999, rector (Pro-Vice-Chancellor) of JNU, 1999–2002. (Retired from JNU in 2005.), Editor-in-Chief of the 11-Volume Encyclopaedia of Hinduism (sponsored by Parmarth Niketan / India Heritage Research Foundation, USA) published in January 2012.

The Rishi Samman 2021 was awarded to well-known Vedic scholar, Prof. Ganeshi Lal Suthar on August 28, 2021. Prof. Suthar was the first director of Pandit Madhusudan Ojha Shodh Prakosht, Jai Narain Vyas University, Jodhpur (Rajasthan). He has to his credit 19 publications and several more edited volumes on the works of Pandit Madhusudan Ojha.

Renowned Sanskrit grammarian, Dr Pushpa Dikshit, was honoured with Rishi Samman for 2020. Speaking about her work, Dr Jwalant Kumar Shastri said Acharya Dikshit, with her profound knowledge and love, had made Panini’s grammar popular among a wide circle of scholars and students.Her work, Mahasandhi, has crafted a new path of learning and understanding Sanskrit.

Prof. Revaprasad Dwivedi was a renowned poet, playwright and scholar of veda shastras. His most significant works, Sitacaritam and Svatantryasambhavam are two epic poems. He has written extensively on Sahityasastra (Poetics) and produced such great works as Kavyalankarakarika, Natyanusasanam, and Sahityasarirakam. Dwivedi has edited many works, of which The Complete works of Kalidasa is his greatest contribution to Sanskrit literature. He has also presented research papers in various seminars on Sanskrit and Oriental studies.He is an Emeritus Professor of Sanskrit, Banaras Hindu University and the founder of Kalidas Samsthan, Varanasi. He taught in Banaras Hindu University from 1977-1995 in various capacities. He worked as Dean, Faculty of Sanskrit, Banaras Hindu University for three terms (1979-81; 85-87; 87-89). He was Emeritus fellow of the University Grants Commission from 1990 to 1992. Prof. Dwivedi has been honoured for his many contributions to Sanskrit language and literature. He received a Certificate of Honor from The President of India in 1978. He was honoured with four awards for his Svatantryasambhava, an epic poem: Sahitya Akademi Award, 1991; Kalpavalli Award by Bharatiya Bhasha Parishad, Calcutta, 1993; Vacaspati award by K.K. Birla Foundation, New Delhi, 1997; and Sriveni award by R.J. Dalmiya Sriveni Trust, Delhi, 1999. He was conferred nine different awards on his works by the Government of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. He also received two Mitra Puraskara, one Bhojapuraskara and one Vyasapuraskara .

Dr Mullaivasal R. Krishnamurthi Sastrigal retired as the Principal of the Madras Sanskrit College, Mylapore, Chennai, after guiding students for three decades. He completed his Doctorate on the topic “Ishta Siddhi Vivaranam” from Madras University. Dr Sastrigal is a traditionally trained scholar in “Veda Adhyanana” under the tutelage of his father Brahmashri Rajagopala Ghanapathigal and studied “Mimamsa” and “Vedanta Sastra” under the guidance of eminent faculties like SR Krishnamurthi Sastrigal and Polagam Rama Sastrigal. After retirement, he set up a School for Vedanta Studies under the traditional method under the name and title “Brahma Vidya Bhavanam”. He is the Managing Trustee of the Mullaivasal Heritage Trust, whose core objective is to identify, preserve and propagate various branches of Indian Knowledge Systems, and Values through various modes and publish books.