Mumbai, March 12: Prolific writer and activist Mahasweta Devi was presented the Yashwantrao Chavan National award today by Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar.
As the 85-year-old Devi could not attend the function here, her niece Devashri received the award carrying a citation and cheque of Rs 5 lakh.
Devi, a prolific writer in Bengali, has written about 100 books which have been translated into several national and international languages and some of them have even been made into feature films.
The writer, who actively involves herself in the welfare of the downtrodden, had informed the organisers that she would not be able to attend the function due to health reasons.
Speaking on the occasion, Pawar said that Mahasweta Devi had done extensive research particularly in her writings on historical personalities.
—–PTI