Recipient for year 2008

Biography:
Dr. Moti Prakash migrated to India in the wake of partition of the country, when he was 16, Uprooted from his native land and faced with grave economic problem. (10 members in the family)- he started his life humbly in a room in a chawl, with no financial assistance from any source. His small school going brothers even started earning to pay their school fees. It was a great struggle for bare survival.

In 1951, immediately after passing his S.S.C Examination from S.S.C Board, Poona, he tried for a job.

TEACHING CAREER:

He took up teaching as a profession in 1951 and continued his studies side by side. His assignment was at the Sindh Cosmopolitan High School, Chembur, Bombay. After 3 years continuous service taking class V in the school, he joined the K.J.KHILNANI GROUP OF SCHOOLS (BORI BUNDER, DADAR, MAHIM) Bombay, where he continued upto February 15, 1977 in the following capacities:

Teacher from March 1954 to October 1968

Principal – K.J.KHILNANI HIGH SCHOOL, DADAR, BOMBAY from June 1968 to February 15, 1977)

JOINING THE INDIAN HIGH SCHOOL, DUBAI:

Dr. Prakash was appointed as the First Principal of the Indian High School in February 1977, when the school had 600 students on its rolls. The institution is one of the most sought after schools in the Gulf and is permanently affiliated to the Central Board of Secondary Education, New Delhi.

DR. PRAKASH retired as the Principal of the above school in 2000 and was promoted to the post of Rector of the Institution. He finally retired in April, 2002. At present he is associated with Indian Institute of Sindhology and S.H.N.Academy, Adipur as a Member of their Boards & Trust.

POSITIONS HELD IN VARIOUS ORGANISATIONS:

(A) LITERARY EDUCATIONAL ORGANISATIONS:

[01] Sindhi Sahit Mandal, Bombay, Secretary, Vice Chairman
[02] Founder Secretary, Sindhu Kala Mandir, Bombay
[03] Founder Secretary, Sindhu Kala Niketan, Bombay
[04] Akhil Bharat Sindhi Boli and Sahitya Sabha, Secretary and Cultural Secretary
[05] Member, Advisory Committee for Promotion of Standard Literature in Sindhi. (Ministry of Education, Government of India, 1975)
[06] Member, Maharashtra State Bureau of Text Book Production and Curriculum Research, Pune. (Production of Text Books – Class I to IX)
[07] Editor Text Books Class XI and XII [Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education, Pune]
[08] Founder, Council of CBSE Affiliated Schools in the Gulf-Secretary 1990-92), Chairman (1992-93)
[09] Convener, Sindhi Advisory Board, Sahitya Akademi (2003-07) Also member General Council & Executive Board of Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi.
[10] Attended 3-Day Conference on Indian Literature at New York (USA) convened by Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan, New York on 25th & 27th September, 2003.

(B) BOOKS AUTHORED:

[01] Aao Ta Choriyoon Chung – Collection of Poems -1959.
[02] Andhero Ujjalo – Novel - 1953
[03] Adabi Gul – Essays - 1953
[04] Raat Hik Toofan Ji – 3 Act Play
[05] Parde Agiyan Parde Puthiyan – 3 Act Play
[06] Dil Jun Ghalhiyoon – Reminiscences
[07] Dithe Deen Thiyam – Reminiscences (Character Sketches)
[08] Se Sabh Sandhiyam Saah Sen – Travelogue (Sahitya Akademi Award Winning book) – 1988
[09] Portrayal of woman in Sindhi Poetry – Ph.D Thesis, University of Bomaby.
[10] Chining Vich Choley – (Collection of poems) – 1983
[11] Jeea Andar Jhatiyoon, (Collection of Column – articles) – 2004
[12] Tuhinjeea Galia Jun Galhriyoon (Collection of Poems – 2006)
[13] Muhinjo Vas Vaka (Collection column articles) 2007

(C) BOOKS TRANSLATED

[01] Kalindi (Novel) – by Trashanker Banerjee
[02] Adeena – Tajiskatani Novel by SadaruddinEiny
[03] Kako Kaloo – Translation of Three Men in a Boat, by Jerome K Jerome
[04] Under Secretary – 3 – Act Hindi Drama by Romesh Mehta.

(D) SCRIPTS AND DIALOGUES FOR FILMS:

[01] Raat Hik Toofan Ji (Story – Lyrics – Dialogues – Screenplay)
[02] Naqli Shann (Dialogues)
[03] Anja Ta Ma Nandri Ahyan – (Lyrics – Dialogues)

(E) ASSOCIATION WITH ALL INDIA RADIO & FILMS DIVISION & Telefilms

[01] Associated with All India Radio, Bombay as Sindhi Programme Incharge from 1956 till 1967).
[02] Incharge, Sindhi News Unit – All India Radio. New Delhi. (1967)
[03] Produced about 250 Plays and Features for All India Radio, Bombay.
[04] Commentator – Films Division, Bombay (Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India, on casual basis.)
[05] Acted in Telefilm Pahinja Parawa in a lead role. Has written many screen plays and scripts for telefilms for Sindhi Sangat.

(F) AWARDS IN THE FIELD OF LITRATURE & EDUCATION

[01] Patriotic Lyrics Competition 1965, All India Radio, 1st Prize – 1965
[02] Children’s Literature Award on book – ‘Gulran Ja Geet’ – NCERT (Ministry of Education, Government of India) 1975
[03] Award for outstanding contribution to Sindhi Literature (Cash Prize Rs. 20,000/- with citation) – Akhil Bharat Sindhi Boli and Sahitya Sabha (1988)
[04] Maharashtra Sindhi Sahitya Academy Award (Rs.10,000/-) – (1988)
[05] February 1989 – COVETED Sahitya Akademi Award 1988 Citation & Award Rs. 25,000/-) on his book in Sindhi, entitled – ‘Se Sabh Saandyam Saah Sen’.
[06] September 1989 – Prestigious National Award for Teachers – (1988). First award given to any educationist outside India.
[07] Prof. Ram Panjwani Literary Award (Rs.5,000/-) – 1989.
[08] Sahyog Foundation Award – 2000
[09] Ishwaribai J. Buxani Award for contribution to Sindhi Literature – 1999.
[10] Priyadarshni Literary Award Rs. 25000/- & a memento in Mumbai on 24-3-2004.
[11] Life Time Achievement Award by Sindhi Academy Delhi. (Rs. One Lac & citation) 2006.
[12] Best book of the Year Award 2006 – Tuhinjia Galia Jun Galhriyoon – (collection of Poems) – Rs. 51000 and Citation from National Council for Promotion of Sindhi Language at Ahmedabad on 9th June, 2007.
[13] Uttam Award for contribution in the literature 2008

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