Cherubim Tirkey Wins Swami Devanand Chakkungal Award for Hindi Literature

Pune, August 23, 2025: Fr. Cherubim Tirkey, a prominent figure in Hindi journalism and a passionate communicator among the tribal communities of Chota Nagpur, has been selected for the prestigious Swami Devanand Chakkungal Award for his contributions to Hindi literature.

The Swami Devanand Chakkungal Award will be formally conferred on Fr. Cherubim Tirkey during the 30th National Convention of Christian Journalists, organised by the ICPA, to be held in Pune on Saturday, 20 September 2025.

He was a founding member of Tarang Bharti, a Hindi weekly started in May 2002 by the Regional Bishops’ Council of Bihar, Jharkhand and Andaman. In 2006, he became its Editor and served in this role until 2008.

A significant part of Fr. Tirkey’s contribution to Hindi journalism is through Jharkhand Express, a Hindi fortnightly newspaper he founded and has been publishing regularly since 2009.

Jharkhand Express highlights and informs the people of Jharkhand, particularly the tribals, on social, economic, educational and cultural issues that have a direct bearing on their lives.

Fr. Tirkey has also authored several books in Hindi, including Marriage Traditions and Marital Problems among the Adivasis of Chhota Nagpur, Preparation for Marriage and Prenuptial Investigation, The Catechism of the Catholic Church, Why Mixed Marriage is a Bad Idea, Revolutionary Ideas to Save the Tribals, and Fifth Schedule.

In addition, he has published other small booklets in Hindi on social issues related to the protection of tribal land, forests, and water. He has also translated several Vatican documents into Hindi.

The Award for contribution to Hindi literature is sponsored by the Indore Province of the Society of the Divine Word and the ICPA, in fond memory of Kerala-born Swami Devanand, who made a significant mark in Hindi literature.

Ignatius Gonsalves, President, ICPA

Suresh Mathew, Secretary, ICPA

By Fr. Suresh Mathew

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