Another award for Mahasveta Devi

After Jnanipath, literatteur and social activist Mahasveta Devi has been awarded Padma Vibhushan.

Litterateur and social activist Mahasveta Devi, winner of this year's Padma Vibhushan award, said here tonight that she was "overwhelmed" at the honour bestowed on her by the government.

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"I am overwhelmed when I was telephonically informed by the media. But I would have been happier if this honour went to many more deserving people in India," Mahasveta Devi told PTI here.

Mahasveta Devi, who had won the Jnanpith as well as Sahitya Akademi awards, said she would not relent in her work with denotified tribes.

"I would like to receive the same amount of cooperation from the government to help me achieve my objective of ensuring the welfare of tribals," she said.

Apart from penning several books including 'Hajar Churasir Ma' which was filmed with Jaya Bachchan in the lead role, the writer has been working for the welfare of the Sabar Kheria tribe in West Midnapore and Purulia districts of West Bengal for several decades.