Delhi: Neeraj Samman Ceremony To Honor Javed Akhtar On Sixth Death Anniversary Of Gopal Das ‘Neeraj’

A special program will be held today, July 19, in Delhi to commemorate the sixth death anniversary of the renowned poet, lyricist, and writer Gopal Das ‘Neeraj’. The event will begin at 6:30 pm at the Press Club of India on Raisina Road.

CMD Upendrra Rai as Patron of Gopaldas Trust

The ‘Neeraj Samman Samaroh’ is being organized by Upendrra Rai, Chairman, MD, and Editor-in-Chief of Bharat Express, along with Gopal Das Neeraj’s son, Mrigank Prabhakar. The Press Club of India, the Hindi Academy, and the Mahakavi Gopaldas Neeraj Foundation Trust are co-organizers of the event. CMD Upendrra Rai serves as the patron of this trust.

Upendrra Rai has previously organized events in memory of Mahakavi Gopal Das ‘Neeraj’. Last year, he honored actor Annu Kapoor with the Gopaldas Neeraj Award-2023 during the Kavyanjali Samman ceremony.

Javed Akhtar to be Honored

The program will be presided over by Padmashree Surendra Sharma. The Chief Guest will be Vishwas Sarang, the Sports/Cooperative Minister in the Madhya Pradesh Government, and the special guest will be Punjab Police ADGP Faiyaz Farooqui. Additional special guests include Hindi Academy Secretary Rishi Kumar and former MLC Ramnaresh Yadav.

Lyricist and screenwriter Javed Akhtar will be honored with the ‘Mahakavi Neeraj Samman-2024’ during the event. Prominent Bollywood personalities, including actor and director Annu Kapoor, filmmaker Boney Kapoor, and screenwriter and filmmaker Rumi Jafri, will attend as specially invited guests.

About Gopal Das Neeraj

Gopaldas Saxena ‘Neeraj’ was born on January 4, 1925, in Puravali village near Block Mahewa in Etawah district. His songs for Hindi cinema gained immense popularity, including memorable hits like “Likhe Jo Khat Tujhe” from Prem Pujari (1970), “Rangeela Re Tere Rang Mein”, “Kaal Ka Pahaya Ghume Re Bhaiya” from Chanda Aur Bijli (1970), “Bas Yahi Apradh Main Har Baar Karta Hoon” from Pehchaan (1971), and “Aye Bhai! Zara Dekh Ke Chalo” from Mera Naam Joker (1972).

Gopal Das Neeraj was honored with the Padma Shri in 1991 and the Padma Bhushan in 2007. In 1994, the Uttar Pradesh Hindi Institute awarded him the ‘Yash Bharti Award’, and he also received the Vishwa Urdu Award. Gopal Das ‘Neeraj’ passed away on July 19, 2018.