Rekha Rajvanshi receives Hindi Prasaar Samman by the U.P. Hindi Sansthan
By Neena Badhwar
Rekha Rajvanshi was conferred ‘Hindi Videsh Prasaar Samman’ by the UP Hindi Sansthan in Lucknow on November 28. The award carries an added cash prize incentive worth Rs. 250,000. Rekha recently celebrated 10th anniversary of ILASA (Indian Literary Art Society of Australia) and has published now eight books her recent one being a nazm compilation ‘Mutthi Bhar Chandni’ and short stories titled ‘Australia Se Rekha Rajvanshi Ki Kahania’.
Her extensive efforts in the field of Hindi language promotion in Australia is her untiring effort to compile the Hindi poets of Australia in ‘Boomerang 1’ and ‘Boomerang 2’ – first book carried poems written by eleven poets and second was an even bigger effort which brought together 40 poets from a cross Australia. Rekha has also translated Aboriginal dreamtime stories for an animation film for which she won the national award by AUSIT.
Another book of hers is on the way to print on women-centric issues – ‘Stree Maregi Nahin’. When you talk to her says Rekha, “Pata Nahin, Shayad Goddess Saraswati mujh par mehrbaan hain (पता नहीं, शायद माँ सरस्वती मुझ पर मेहरबान हैं).’
Poems, couplets fall out of her imagination, words, thoughts just find their way through this prolific writer’s pen who has not only published her own poems in her books but also has written short stories which she says is a total new art of writing. “To tell you the truth story writing is pretty difficult than writing a poem. The characters were all around and to weave them in with Indian angle was a total new craft for me,” says Rekha. She has picked stories on topics on characters caught during Covid-19 affliction, her keen observation has led to stories based on migrant experiences in Australia.
A teacher by profession in special education with NSW Board of Education, Rekha has also taught Hindi in Sunday school and at Saturday School of Languages. She also taught Hindi to adults at Sydney university. During Covid in the past two years Rekha has held many Zoom sessions bringing together poets in Australia as well as poets from India and other countries. This unstoppable writer of Hindi not only inspires others but has held over forty kavi sammelans, holding Hindi Divas celebrations at the Indian Consulate General in Sydney. In fact on December 12 Rekha was zooming her poems from India in a Vaishvik sammelan as she sang some of her couplets with total ease while travelling.
The Indian Down Under congratulates Rekha who has many coveted honours under her belt including SAFAL Fest’s honour in the field of Art in 2017. On November 30 Rekha was seen on U.P. Doordarshan talking about her books and her life in Australia in a 45-minute interview with the host on this prime time TV channel which was watched by millions. Her efforts have been well rewarded for the work she has done in the promotion of Hindi in Australia, and between India and Australia. She has created a bridge between India and Australia and we hope she will continue to do so with same zeal she has for Hindi literature.
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