Maharishi Valmiki is considered to be one of the most revered saints and poets in Indian history. He is known as the author of the epic Ramayana, one of the two major Hindu epics. Valmiki’s story is inspiring, as he transformed from a notorious robber to a great sage and poet. His teachings and writings have had a significant impact on Indian culture, religion, and literature. In recognition of his contributions, The Eagle Eye Network by Digital Golgappa has dedicated the Maharishi Valmiki Bharatiya Gaurav Samman, a highly prestigious honour, to him.
Anupama Ravindran Menon is the chosen winner of Maharishi Valmiki Bharatiya Gaurav Samman 2023 in ‘Author’ category for her outstanding contribution to Contemporary Literature, particularly her memoir Dear Manusha.
Achievements of Anupama Ravindran Menon
- Awarded the United Nations Peace Keeping Medal & Honorary certificate for contributions as UN ambassador & medical officer in 2020.
- Awarded Honorary certificate for being apart of the UNIFIL COVID-19 Crisis team in 2020
- Awarded Honorary certificates for being the representing speaker of Malaysia in the International Virtual Symposium of Adversities & Strategies of Handling COVID-19 in area of operation organised by Vietnamese Defence Ministry & UNDPKO & CUNPKO India.
- Participating speaker & joint organiser for curbing Malaria outbreak amongst military personnel in collaboration with The Johore State Health Department of Infectious Disease & Entomology in 2018
- First prize in Notion Press International Short Stories writing Competition 2018.
- Published as joint author along with 19 other authors in Plotpourri, an anthology of short stories by Notion Press in 2018.
- Successfully completed first Solo Art Exhibition entitled “Hridhaya : The Language of Heartbeats” in 2019
- Published debut novel venture entitled “Dear Manusha” under the publication house of Notion Press in 2019
- First runner up in the 7th Indie’s Author Championship by Notion Press in 2023
- Awardee of Sheroes Nari Samman 2023 Award by TWIC-PWP
- Awardee of Banabhatta Saahityik Puraskaar 2023 Award by Cherrybook Awards & Digital Golgappa
- Awardee of Pratibha Samman 2023 Award by SheForward Official
- Awardee of Bharat Bhushan Ratna Samman 2023 by PWP.
- Awardee for Maharishi Valmiki Bharathiya Samman 2023 Award by Cherrybook Awards
- Awardee of Inspiring Indians 2023 by BharatGuild
- Nominee of Litfest 2023 & Author of the Year 2023 by Ne8x Litfest
>>>> READ ANUPAMA RAVINDRAN MENON’S SPICY SCOOPS INTERVIEW WITH THE UPDATE INDIA HERE <<<<
Biography of Anupama Ravindran Menon
“Wearing my heart on my sleeve & brain somewhere between my cranium & mouth, is pretty much myself in a nutshell” as she says. Our simple girl next door, Anupama Ravindran Menon, fondly known as her Anu, was born and brought up in the humble suburbs of old Seremban town in Malaysia. Being the oldest of her siblings, she was brought up in the warm embrace her beloved family who she quotes as the crux of everything she is today. Being the quintessential exuberance of her life, she was nurtured & loved by the nucleus of her life, dad, Mr Ravindran Menon, mom, Madam Prema Nair, grandparents Mr V Krishnan Kutty Menon & Madam Sankari Menon (Apuppa & Amumma) , aunt Mrs Sugunna Krishnan (Cheru), uncle Mr Sateesh Menon(Wawa) & Mr Nesa , sisters & best friend Anitha Menon, Anisha & Ashwani Nesarajah. Upon being conferred the scholarship of the Malaysian Defense Ministry & obtaining MBBS from Manipal University, she started training as an intern & began serving as a doctor in the Malaysian Armed Forces.
Setting foot as a doctor & an officer in the military was a unique experience of its own. She quoted it a privilege to have served under the United Nation’s (UN) flagship in a peacekeeping operation in Lebanon in 2019-2020 (UNIFIL) as a part of an entourage of the Malaysian Battalion 850-7. Anu believes that the opportunity to join international exercises provided an arena, pivoting as a melting pot of culture & brains, enabling the exchange of personal & professional experiences between various cultures & continents. Apart from being a UN peacekeeping ambassador & a doctor in field, she also played the role as the Gender Focal Point representative for the contingent. Anu personally felt gratified for the wonderful opportunity to be walking hand in hand with all these beautiful ladies of all walks of life, hearing & experiencing their life first hand. She was also an active part of the COVID-19 crisis team under the tutelage of UNIFIL Medical HQ & WHO. Furthermore, she was the representing speaker for Malaysia, in international virtual symposiums to present regarding the adversities & challenges of COVID-19 in operational areas, namely by Vietnamese Defence & UNDPKO & CUNPKO of India.
Stuck in a millennial body but carrying an old school soul, her likes are very much encompassed by little miracles of life… She is an ardent believer of live, love & laugh trying to find happiness in the tiny, daily forgotten bundles of joy… She loves waking up to morning dew blanketing the sleeping surroundings, a pluviophile who loves raindrops that hit off the barren earth & immerses in the emanating fragrence of fresh minerals & soil. A true combination of helio & opacarophile loving every outburst of sunrays specifically at dusk , which then loves wraping her day up looking out at the dazzling stars that scatter the inevitable black, dark sky staying true to her astrophile side… Above all, she loves her dad (the most), her family & loved ones.
As much as she loves practicing medicine, she is also in awe of art in its every form. Anu finds it addictive diving into books & splashing colors over a blank canvas… She enjoys snapping shots of nature, trying to capture the perfect moment of a heartbeat in a single click of camera lens. Hence, a doctor in the armed forces , Nature’s photographer , writer & painter, the new kid around the block..
She did her first solo art exhibition entitled “Hridhaya : The Language of Heartbeats” in 2019. She has also authored two books, first published as a joint author in “Plotpourri-anthology of short stories”, followed by her debut solo venture “Dear Manusha” which has also won her multiple awards and recognitions despite being the new kid in the block.
Anu is a rebel against social norms, preordained dogmas that dictate life on how it should be. Anu also despises pretense & selfishness, actively disliking hierarchy based context of any daily living practice…
