The French Ambassador to Bharat, Thierry Mathou, recently honored Aditi Maheshwari, the Executive Director of Vani Prakashan, with the title of Chevalier dans l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters). This recognition applauds Maheshwari’s contributions to Hindi publishing and her dedicated efforts to amplify the voices of marginalized communities, including LGBTQ individuals, Dalits, Adivasis, and feminists.
Aditi Maheshwari’s journey in the publishing industry began 14 years ago when she joined Vani Prakashan as an editorial intern. Having completed her studies in humanities in India and a business and marketing program in Scotland in 2012, she returned to contribute to the publishing house established by her grandparents and managed by her parents. Currently, she serves as the Executive Director of Vani Prakashan Group, which celebrates its 60th year in publishing this year.
Vani Prakashan has become the largest publishing conglomerate in Hindi, boasting 400 annual publications. After taking over the publishing program of Bharatiya Jnanpith, India’s oldest publishing house, the group has earned numerous accolades, including 32 Sahitya Akademi award-winning books, translations of nine Nobel laureates into Hindi, and works by several other award-winning writers.
During the investiture ceremony, the French Ambassador praised Aditi Maheshwari for her dedication to Hindi literature and her initiatives to make French literature accessible to Hindi readers. He acknowledged her commitment to promoting the voices of minorities, women, and the marginalized in Hindi literature, recognizing her as a trailblazer for women aspiring to join the publishing industry.
Expressing her gratitude, Aditi Maheshwari stated that Vani Prakashan Group plays a central role in fostering an inclusive Hindi and Indian language public sphere. She highlighted the deep impact of French history and thought on Indian languages’ literature and thought. Receiving the prestigious Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres, she acknowledged the honor on behalf of the authors, the Hindi language, and its literary history, expressing eagerness for continued cooperation between the French and Hindi publishing industries.
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