Key Points
Diplomat-poet recognized for international cultural diplomacy
Honored alongside distinguished national educators and leaders
Extensive literary and artistic contributions highlighted
Award celebrates multicultural educational achievements
Supreme Court Justice JK Maheshwari conferred him on Thursday in the presence of R Venkataramani, the Attorney General of India, and other dignitaries at the Bharat Shiksha Summit.
Abhay K was conferred the Bharat Shiksha Samman 2025 for his exceptional service and remarkable contribution to promoting Indian culture and education through international diplomacy.
It is a mark of national appreciation and respect, celebrating the recipient's enduring dedication to shaping the future of Indian education, culture, and societal values through visionary efforts and unwavering commitment.
Abhay K is a poet, editor, translator, artist, diplomat, and author of Nalanda: How it Changed the World. He has published several poetry collections and edited six books, including The Book of Bihari Literature.
His edited book 100 Great Indian Poems, which includes poems from 28 different Indian languages spanning over 3000 years, has been translated and published into Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, French, Greek, Arabic and Malagasy.
His poems have appeared in over a hundred literary magazines across the globe, and his "Earth Anthem" has been translated into over 160 languages. His poetry books have been translated and published into Portuguese, Spanish, Malagasy, French, Romanian, Russian and Odia.
He received the SAARC Literary Award 2013 and was invited to record his poems at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC. His translations of Kalidasa Maghduta and Ritusamhara from Sanskrit won him the KLF Poetry Book of the Year Award 2020-21. Penguin Random House India has published his translation of the Magahi novel Fool Bahadur.
His artistic journey began in 2005 in Moscow, Russia. Since then, he has exhibited his artworks in Paris, St Petersburg, New Delhi, Brasilia, and Antananarivo, some of which are in private collections worldwide.
His latest series of paintings on the Buddhist philosophy of 'Shunyata' has been exhibited at the National Museum, New Delhi, Bihar Museum, Patna, Salar Jung Museum, Hyderabad, and Romain Rolland Art Gallery at Alliance Francais, New Delhi.
The other recipients of the Bharat Shiksha Samman included well-known Urdu poet Waseem Barelavi, parliamentarian and industrialist Naveen Jindal, historian Vikram Sampath, Azim Premji Foundation, Dr Rama, Principal of Hansraj College, Delhi University, Prof Ram Singh, Director, Delhi School of Economics and Prof Kaushal Panwar - Director, School of Humanities, IGNOU; and Professor in Sanskrit.
Comments:
What an inspiring achievement! Abhay K's work bridging cultures through poetry and diplomacy is truly remarkable. His 'Earth Anthem' being translated into 160+ languages shows how art can unite humanity 🌍✨
While I admire his literary contributions, I wonder if the selection process for these awards could be more transparent. That said, Abhay K's body of work certainly deserves recognition.
His translation work is incredible! Bringing ancient Indian texts to modern audiences while maintaining their essence - that's real scholarship. The Bharat Shiksha Samman is well-deserved 👏
Multitalented individual! Poet, diplomat, artist, translator - and excelling in all fields. Makes me wonder what I'm doing with my life 😅 But seriously, inspiring to see such dedication to cultural preservation.
The exhibition of his 'Shunyata' paintings at national museums is particularly fascinating. It's rare to find someone who can express profound philosophical concepts through both words and visual art. Would love to see his work in person!
Great to see recognition for cultural ambassadors like Abhay K. In our rush toward technological progress, we often forget the importance of preserving and promoting our literary and artistic heritage. More power to him!
