Mahesh Chandra Sharma Gautam

Mahesh Chandra Sharma Gautam (born 24 December 1949) is an Indian scholar, novelist, poet, and retired educator known for his contributions to Sanskrit and Hindi literature. His work spans novels, epic poetry, and biographies. He received the Sahitya Akademi Award in 2020 for his Sanskrit novel Vaishali recognised for its literary merit by Rashtriya Sahitya Sansthan. He is the first individual from Punjab to win the Sahitya Akademi Award for Sanskrit literature.

Early life and education Mahesh Chandra Sharma Gautam was born on 24 December 1949 in Patiala, Punjab to Pandit Baldev Krishan Shastri and Krishna Devi. He was the youngest of five children and had four older sisters.

Career Gautam began his teaching career in 1968 at the age of 19 as a Sanskrit teacher at K.K. High School, Rajpura, and later served as a Hindi lecturer at several institutions, including Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Cheeka, Haryana, retiring in 2007.

Literary contributions Gautam's works span Sanskrit and Hindi, covering novels, epic poetry, and biographies. His notable publications include:

• Vaishali (2017, Sanskrit novel, published by Haryana Sahitya and Sanskriti Akademi): A critically acclaimed work exploring marital issues, awarded the Sahitya Akademi Award in 2020.

• Sunayana (2019, Sanskrit novel): Honored with the Kalidas Award (Punjab Government) and Banabhatta Award (Uttar Pradesh Sanskrit Sansthan) in 2020.

• Swatantrya Samar (2013, Sanskrit epic poem): Received the Gyani Sant Singh Best Book Award in 2014.

• Adhura Aadmi (2014, Hindi novel): Awarded the Sudarshan Best Book Award in 2015.

• Maharham Ratnambedkarah (2020, Sanskrit biography): A biography of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.

• Kshitij Ki Talash (2021, Hindi novel): Received the Dr. Sugan Chand Bhatia Award from the All India Senior Citizens Confederation, Mumbai, in 2021.

• Maa Veera Vismrita Bhoovan (2025, Sanskrit, published by Central Sanskrit University, Delhi): a 531-page Sanskrit prose which chronicles the valor of Indian soldiers in conflicts from 1947 to 2019.

Launched on 28 June 2025, at the World Sanskrit Conference in Kathmandu under the oversight of Vice-Chancellor Shrinivas Varkhedi, the book has garnered significant attention, though Gautam was unable to attend the event.

Awards and recognition In 2020, Gautam became the first individual from Punjab to win the Sahitya Akademi Award for both Hindi and Sanskrit literature. While several Punjabi writers have previously received the award in other languages, Gautam holds the distinction of being the first to win it for a Sanskrit work, with his novel Vaishali.

Kalidas Puraskar (2020) for Sunayana, Language Department of Punjab.

Banhatt Puraskar (2020) for Sunayana, Uttar Pradesh Sanskrit, Lucknow.

Giani Sant Singh Best Book Award (2014) for Swatantrya Samar.

Sudarshan Best Book Award (2015) for Adhoora Aadami.