Compile works of Deendayal Upadhyaya: Javadekar

A society makes progress when emphasis is laid on flowering of literature, Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar said Tuesday, and asked the Publications Division to compile the works of BJP ideologue Deendayal Upadhyaya.

Presenting the Bhartendu Harishchandra Awards for 2011 and 2012 at a function here, Javadekar said the Publications Division should give priority to publishing books that inspire society.

"The society where literature grows and flowers, that society makes progress," he said.

He said the Publications Division, a unit of the information and broadcasting ministry, was the largest publisher of Gandhian literature and preserved all written words of Mahatma Gandhi.

Javadekar said Upadhyaya, who is considered one of the guiding lights of the Bharatiya Janata Party, had given the country the concept of "Antyodaya" (reaching out to the last man).

"He (Upadhyaya) was a thinker. He has written a lot. All his works should also be collected. We will do it," Javadekar said.

Publications Division officials said it was the first time that the awards were given away on the birth anniversary of Bhartendu Harishchandra.

Javadekar said the pending awards should be cleared and each year's event should correspond to awards of that year.

The award was instituted in 1983 and was initially given for original writing in Hindi in Journalism and Mass Communications. More categories were added later.

Javadekar suggested that award category should be created for young girls as education of girls and women is vital for development of society.

He also said that award money will be enhanced.