BS feature writer bags journalism award

V Anand Sankar, a Business Standard senior feature writer, has received the 2008 Business Standard-Seema Nazareth Award for Excellence in Print Journalism.

The award was presented to him by Delhi Lieutenant Governor Tejendra Khanna at a function in New Delhi on Saturday. The award is given every year to a journalist below 30 years of age. Apart from a citation, it carries a cash award of Rs 25,000 and a silver pen.

Sankar is the 10th recipient of the award, instituted by Business Standard and the Nazareth family in memory of Seema Nazareth, a young Business Standard journalist who died in 1999.

“The jury recognises his unerring eye, his curious, lively, probing mind, his exceptional facility to write well, his need to explore, comprehend and report on the environment, on changing social concerns, on the many patterns and styles of life and living, all unveiled in his refreshing turn of phrase and use of language. Anand Sankar uses his camera as deftly as he does his pen. He brings old-world values of journalism to his contemporary expositions of his diverse canvas,” the citation read.

Tejendra Khanna recognised the high standards and diversity of Indian journalism. “This award is a great tribute to the richness of this profession. One doesn’t find serious analysis and food for thought in journalism in equal measure outside the country today,” he said.

Accepting the award, Sankar thanked Business Standard for the opportunity to explore smaller stories that required attention. Isobel Nazareth, Seema Nazareth’s mother, proposed the vote of thanks at the ceremony.