New Delhi, March 24, 2026: Rajasthani Academy, in collaboration with the Russian Centre of Science and Culture (Russian House), New Delhi, successfully organised the 35th Kavyitri Sammelan and 13th Naari Gaurav Samman 2026, celebrating literary excellence, cultural cooperation and women empowerment. Held in the spirit of International Women’s Day, the programme brought together diplomats, cultural leaders, eminent literary personalities and distinguished guests, reflecting the shared commitment towards strengthening global harmony through art and poetry.
The event commenced with inspiring addresses by Dr. Elena Remizova, Director of Russian House in New Delhi, and Dr. Gaurav Gupta, President of Rajasthani Academy, who highlighted the significance of poetry as a universal language that transcends borders and fosters international understanding. The programme was successfully convened and coordinated by Ms. Suman Maheshwari, who played a pivotal role in hosting the Kavyitri Sammelan and the Awards Ceremony with dedication and professionalism. Dr. Remizova was widely appreciated for her visionary leadership and continued efforts in promoting Indo-Russian cultural engagement and literary dialogue.
The programme was graced by the presence of several distinguished dignitaries including Amb. Bizunesh Meseret Tsegene from the Embassy of Ethiopia; H.E. Mr. Chandradath Singh, High Commissioner of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago; Mr. Djimtola Kodjian, First Secretary at the Embassy of Chad; H.E. Mr. K. L. Ganju, Consul General (Hon.) of the Union of the Comoros; Mr. Yermek from the Embassy of Kazakhstan; Mr. Tsiory Randrianarivony, Counsellor at the Embassy of Madagascar; Mr. Martin Daniel Mande from South Sudan; Mr. Lakshmendra Geshan Dissanayake, Minister Counsellor at the Sri Lanka High Commission; and Mr. Benno Boer, Programme Specialist at UNESCO. The event also witnessed the gracious presence of special guests including Ms. Anita Chandradath Singh, media personality; Ms. Malala Rabenandrashana, CEO of The Gold Tara; Ms. Nebiha Boer, entrepreneur; Ms. Uma Thapa, educator and social worker; Mr. Ram Kailash Gupta, Mr. Navratan Aggarwal, Mr. Dhiraj Dhar Gupta and Mr. Prem Singh Dhingra.
As part of the 35th Kavyitri Sammelan, fourteen accomplished poetesses presented engaging poetic recitations encompassing themes of patriotism, humour, social reflection and women empowerment. The participating poets included Alka Maheshwari, Mamta Mishra, Neelam Anand, Nidhi Bansal, Nisha Bhargava, Pratibha Singhal, Pravesh Dhawan, Rajni Bafna, Sapna Prakash, Shanti Sharma, Suman Maheshwari, Sunita Bansal, Uma Malviya and guest poetess Nishi Singh. Their soulful presentations created a vibrant literary ambience and were warmly appreciated by the audience.
The prestigious 13th Naari Gaurav Samman honoured distinguished women achievers from diverse professional backgrounds for their exemplary contributions to society. The awardees included Aartei Pandey, Aarti Khetarpal, Acharya Neetu Sharma, Amrita Prakash, Annu Khandelwal, Arti Rathi, Dr. Asha Kumari, Dr. Chandana Raul, Hema Gulati, Ms. Kajal Bihani, Mamta Soni, Nandani Kumari, Neha Thakural, Payal Swami, Dr. Prabha Dubey, Dr. Punam Garg, Rayna Juneja, Rosy Ahluwalia, Sapna Chauhan, Sasmita Mohanty, Seema Gupta, Shivani Malik, Stuti Gupta, Dr. Sumathy Bachchan, Sylvie Rodgers and Tisha Sharma.
The event stood as a meaningful platform for strengthening cultural diplomacy and promoting literary exchange among nations. The collaboration between Rajasthani Academy and Russian House exemplified a successful global cultural partnership, while the recognition of accomplished women leaders reaffirmed the shared commitment towards empowerment, inclusivity and social progress. The programme concluded with a felicitation ceremony and a renewed resolve to continue advancing cultural dialogue and literary excellence through future initiatives.
