New Delhi, Feb 16 : President Pratibha Patil today presented Hindi Sevi Samman - 2007 awards to a number of Hindi experts for playing their important role in promoting the Hindi language.

The award ceremony was organised by Kendriya Hindi Sansthan, Agra, which is an autonomous organization under the Department of Higher Education, Union Ministry of Human Resource Development.

Alok Mehta, a well-known journalist and presently editor, Nai Duniya, was awarded the Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi Puraskar for commendable work in the field of Hindi journalism and creative literature. Dr. Amar Nath Amar and Kamaal Khan were also jointly given the award.

Subramanya Bharati Puraskar for contributing significantly towards creative/analytical literature leading to the development of Hindi language was given to Prof. Nirmala Jain and Prof. Nand Kishore Naval.

Dr. John Griyarsan Puraskar, given to a foreign personality for meritorious work in the field of propagating Hindi abroad, was awarded to Prof. Danuta Stashic of Poland. Padmabhusan Dr. Moturi Satyanarayan Puraskar, given to a person of Indian origin for meritorious work in the field of propagating Hindi abroad, was awarded to Usha Priyamvada (U. S. A.).

Gangasharan Singh Puraskar for contributing significantly towards propagation of Hindi language and its training was given to Dr. M. Seshan, Prof. A. Arvindakshan and Prof. Zohra Afzal.

Atma Ram Puraskar for meritorious work in the field of Scientific and Technical literature was conferred on Dr. Durga Dutt Ojha and Dr. Subodh Mohanty (jointly) and Vineeta Singhal and Dr. Manoj Pateriya (jointly).

Mahapandit Rahul Sankrityayan Puraskar for contributing significantly in the field of travelogue and Discovery and Research in Hindi was awarded to Dr. Puran Chandra Joshi and Hari Ram Meena. (ANI)