Shimla 8 April, 2025
Lifetime Achievement Award will be given to BR Mehta for commendable contribution in the field of Akashvani and theatre. The Health and Public Welfare Minister Dr. (Colonel) Dhaniram Shandil will flag off the Yatra on 12 April and will be chief guest.
For preserving the memories of Baba Bhalku during the Himalaya Sahitya Sanskriti and Environment Forum Bhalku Smriti Kalka Shimla Rail Sahitya Yatra, former renowned announcer of Akashvani, theatre artist and President of Baba Bhalkhu Smriti and Jan Vikas Samiti – Chail, Mr. B. R. Mehta will be decorated with “Lifetime Achievement Award” for his notable contribution in the field of Akashvani and theatre.
Along with this, Durgadutt Thakur, Ram swaroop Thakur and Kanti Swaroop Thakur, the sixth generation family members of Baba Bhalku will be honored with Bhalku Smriti Samman. Gardener Sushil Kumar Verma will also be honored for his cooperation in the Yatra.This information was shared by Himalaya Manch’s president S.R. Harnot.
He told that B.R. Mehta has given 37 years of service as an announcer and theatre artist in Shimla, Jodhpur, Bikaner and Suratgarh Akashvani. He has not only written plays but has also staged famous plays of many big drama writers. His special allegory on Malana village and the play “Roshni Ki Or” written for Akashvani Shimla in 1999 also received the national level award for the first time in the All India Akashvani broadcast competition. Along with this, he also formed “Baba Bhalku Smriti and Jan Vikas Samiti” Chail and played a big role in installing the statue of Baba Bhalku in Chail market. Mehta has played a commendable role in preserving the memories of Bhalku.
S.R. Harnot told that senior member of Bhalku’s family, Shri Durgadat Thakur has still preserved all the documents given by the British administration in praise of Bhalku. These also include an appointment letter in which Bhalku was given the title of Overseer in view of his outstanding contribution to the Hindustan Tibet Road.
On the second day of the two-day Baba Bhalku Smriti Kalka Shimla Rail Sahitya Yatra on April 13, 2025, 33 writers will go to Bhalku’s ancestral village Jhajha Chail where these honors will be given in an event. On the first day, the writers will travel from Shimla to Barog and Barog to Shimla and on the second day they will go to Chail by bus.
