16 December 2023
ADITI MAHESHWARI WAS HONORED WITH FRANCE’S KNIGHT OF THE ORDER OF ARTS AND LETTERS
Aditi Maheshwari, the Executive Director of Vani Prakashan, a leading Hindi language publishing house was honored with the esteemed Chevalier dans l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters) by H.E. Mr. Thierry Mathou, Ambassador of France to India for her exceptional achievements in the field of Hindi publishing and promoting marginalised voices in the Hindi language.
“I am delighted to confer the insignia of Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres, on behalf of the Ministry of Culture, on you, Ms Aditi Maheshwari for your dedication to Hindi literature and initiatives to make French literature available for Hindi language readers. This award also recognizes your commitment to promoting the voices of minorities, women and the marginalized in Hindi literature. I believe your own exceptional professional journey paved the way for numerous women aspiring to join the publishing industry, marking a significant step towards achieving gender equality,” Thierry Mathou, Ambassador of France to India commended Maheshwari’s substantial contributions.
“It is an honor to present the Chevalier des Arts et Lettres to Ms. Aditi Maheshwari for her dedication to Hindi language literature and her initiatives to make world literature accessible to Hindi readers. Her ascent to a prominent position in the male-dominated publishing industry is an inspiration to all, marking a significant step towards gender equality,” he added.
“Vani Prakashan Group stands at the epicenter of an inclusive Hindi and Indian languages public sphere. Like the French, we too uphold the ideals of liberty, equality and fraternity. I extend my thanks to H.E. Mr. Thierry Mathou for conferring this esteemed honor on me, accepting it with gratitude on behalf of the authors, the Hindi language, and its rich literary history,” Aditi Maheshwari expressed her heartfelt gratitude upon receiving the prestigious honor.
The award ceremony coincided with the unveiling of the book cover ‘The Second Sex’ by Simone de Beauvoir, translated into Hindi by Monica Singh, scheduled for its release in February. A round-table discussion on the influence of French critical thought on the Hindi public sphere was also organized, participating distinguished speakers including Rohini Aggarwal, Ashok Vajpayee, Anamika and Monica Singh.
The event was graced by the presence of eminent personalities including Shashi Tharoor, Aman Nath, Namita Gokhle, Danish Raza, Faouzia Dastukar, Ashok Bajpai and many more who attended the event to congratulate Aditi Maheshwari.
The prestigious award ceremony unfolded at the French Embassy, New Delhi recognizing Aditi Maheshwari’s exceptional achievements and also underscores the significance of promoting diversity and inclusivity in the realm of literature highlighting the cultural exchange between India and France.
