India, June 15 -- In a ceremony filled with warmth, pride and literary celebration, Lakshmi Puri was honoured with the Pandit Hari Dutt Sharma Award, recognising her impactful entry into the world of fiction with her debut novel Swallowing the Sun. The award is named after Pandit Hari Dutt Sharma, a respected scholar, poet and cultural visionary whose life was dedicated to the promotion of Indian literature, thought and tradition. It continues to honour individuals whose contributions enrich society through words and ideas.

Lakshmi Puri is no stranger to distinction. A seasoned diplomat, she served for nearly 28 years in the Indian Foreign Service before moving to the United Nations, where she rose to become Assistant Secretary-General a...