Lucknow
The Uttar Pradesh Urdu Academy has decided to bestow its highest award to poet Nida Fazli posthumously. This award is given for his contribution to Urdu – the lifetime achievement award –
This award named Maulana Abul Kalam Azad carries a cash prize of Rs.5 lakh.
Prominent among other recipients, announced by academy chairman and noted poet Nawaz Deobandi, are Ajmal Sultanpuri (poetry), Masroor Jahan (fiction), Fazle Imam (research), Mahanama Noor Mazagine (Rampur) for literature for children and Nusrat Zaheer and Mansoor Usmani for comic writings. All of them will get a cash prize of Rs.1 lakh each
The Amir Khusro award of Rs.1.50 lakh will be bestowed upon former Uttar Pradesh governorAzeez Qureshi.