by Arun Pathak
Bokaro: Renowned writer and literary critic Dr. Asha Pushp from Bokaro, Jharkhand, has been conferred with the first Satishraj Pushkarna Short Story Criticism Award at the 30th conference of the All India Progressive Short Story Forum, held in Patna.
The honour included a shawl, citation, memento and a cash prize of ₹15,000. The award was presented in the distinguished presence of senior literary figures and public representatives, including Dr. Ramvachan Rai, Nand Kishore Yadav, Abu Bakar Rizvi, Balram, Sita Sahu, Dr. Shivnarayan, Jyoti Parihar and Dr. Ram Dular Singh Paraya.
Dr. Asha Pushp was recognised for her sustained and scholarly contribution to short story criticism and literature. A former Hindi lecturer with Bokaro Steel Plant’s education department, she has authored several acclaimed works across short stories, fiction and poetry. She completed her doctoral research titled “Short Story: Origin and Development” from Ranchi University in 1990—considered among the earliest PhDs in India devoted exclusively to short story studies.
During the conference, the Forum also announced three other awards instituted in memory of eminent short story writer Dr. Satish Raj Pushkarna. The Short Story Shikhar Award carrying ₹25,000 was presented to Dr. Balram, the Young Short Story Writer Award of ₹11,000 went to Suman Kumar, while the Emerging Short Story Writer Award of ₹5,000 was conferred on 12-year-old Anurag.
Held on December 27–28, 2025, the Patna conference drew wide participation from across the country, with over a hundred writers attending from Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Haryana and Jharkhand.
Writers and literary circles in Bokaro have warmly congratulated Dr. Asha Pushp, hailing the recognition as a proud moment for Jharkhand’s literary community.
