Shillong, July 13: Acclaimed author, translator, and cultural advocate Bijoya Sawian of Meghalaya has been selected to receive the 3rd Aalekh Foundation Women Achievers’ Award on July 19 at The Leela Palace, New Delhi.
Sawian is among 20 women from across India to be recognized for their impactful contributions in diverse fields. She is being honoured for her outstanding achievements in Indian literature and her efforts to preserve and promote the indigenous Khasi culture.
A prolific writer and translator, Sawian has brought the oral traditions and lived experiences of the Khasi people to a wider audience through works such as The Teachings of Elders, The Main Ceremonies of the Khasis, Shadow Men, and Hill Songs of Love and Longing. Her fiction and non-fiction are noted for their lyrical quality and cultural depth, offering insights into life in the Khasi Hills.
“Bijoya Sawian’s work is a quiet revolution in literature — restoring dignity, voice, and visibility to stories that often go unheard,” said Dr. Rennie Joyy, founder of the Aalekh Foundation. “We are proud to honour women like her who shape narratives, nurture legacies, and remind us of the power of words to preserve and transform.”
The awards ceremony will also be attended by several eminent personalities, including Attorney General of India R. Venkataramani and former Supreme Court judge Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul.
The Aalekh Foundation Women Achievers’ Awards celebrate women who have excelled in their respective fields and contributed significantly to society, culture, and nation-building.
