The prestigious Crossword Book Awards, a hallmark of literary recognition in India, has made a highly anticipated return in 2024 after a hiatus of five years. Known for honoring the best in Indian writing in English, this award has a long legacy of celebrating the creative prowess of Indian authors since its inception in 1998. This year marks a significant moment, as the literary world once again turns its eyes to the authors, publishers, and readers who contribute to India’s dynamic literary landscape.
The Revival of a Storied Tradition
The Crossword Book Awards, often regarded as the “Indian Booker,” has been a crucial platform for Indian authors, offering recognition to both emerging and established voices. This prestigious award not only celebrates the rich diversity of Indian writing but also promotes literary engagement through its unique blend of Jury Awards and Popular Choice Awards, giving readers the power to vote for their favorites.
Since the award’s pause in 2019, the literary community has eagerly awaited its return. Aakash Gupta, CEO of Crossword Bookstores, expressed his excitement about the revival, noting,
“As we bring back the Crossword Book Awards, we aim to celebrate the rich tapestry of Indian literature and honor the voices that shape our literary landscape. This event is not just about recognizing excellence; it’s also about inspiring future generations to explore the power of storytelling and the joy of reading.”
Categories and Prizes
The 2024 edition of the Crossword Book Awards covers five major categories:
Fiction
Non-fiction
Children’s Literature
Translations
Business and Management
These categories represent the broad spectrum of Indian writing, reflecting the country’s rich literary heritage. The entries for the awards opened on 18th March 2024 and welcomed hundreds of submissions from publishers across the country. To qualify, books had to be published between 1st March 2023 and 1st March 2024, providing a wide selection of the most recent works in Indian literature.
Winners in each category will receive a cash prize of ₹50,000. Additionally, in the Translations and Children’s categories, the contributions of translators and illustrators will be acknowledged, with each receiving ₹25,000 for their roles in bringing these works to life.
The Longlist: A Showcase of Talent
After extensive deliberation, the three-member jury for each category has released the longlists, highlighting some of the best literary works produced in the past year.
Fiction (Longlist)
1. History’s Angel, by Anjum Hasan
2. Never, Never Land, by Namita Gokhale
3. The Memoirs of Valmiki Rao, by Lindsay Pereira
4. The East Indian, by Brinda Charry
5. The Gallery, by Manju Kapur
6. Quarterlife, by Devika Rege
7. Can’t, by Shinie Antony
8. Chronicle of an Hour and a Half, by Saharu Nusaiba Kannanari
9. Tall Tales By a Small Dog, by Omair Ahmad
10. Shakchunni, by Arnab Ray
This year’s fiction longlist showcases a diverse set of narratives that delve into historical fiction, personal struggles, cultural identities, and bold, experimental storytelling. Anjum Hasan’s History’s Angel and Namita Gokhale’s Never, Never Land stand out as key entries, but each book in this category represents a unique and compelling voice.
Non-fiction (Longlist)
1. From Phansi Yard, by Sudha Bhardwaj
2. The Day I Became a Runner, by Sohini Chattopadhyay
3. City on Fire, by Zeyad Masroor Khan
4. Swadeshi Steam, by A. R. Venkatachalapathy
5. A Part Apart, by Ashok Gopal
6. Mother Cow Mother India, by Yamini Narayanan
7. Anger Management, by Ajay Bisaria
8. Being Hindu Being Indian, by Vanya Vaidehi Bhargav
9. Marginlands, by Arati Kumar-Rao
10. Fire on the Ganges, by Radhika Iyengar
The non-fiction longlist encompasses an eclectic array of themes, from historical retrospectives to personal memoirs, environmental studies, and socio-political commentaries. Sudha Bhardwaj’s From Phansi Yard and Sohini Chattopadhyay’s The Day I Became a Runner have garnered early attention for their powerful narratives.
Translations (Longlist)
1. Beneath the Simolu Tree, by Sarmishtha Pritam, translated from Assamese by Ranjita Biswas
2. Boy, Unloved, by Damodar Mauzo, translated from Konkani by Jerry Pinto
3. I Named My Sister Silence, by Manoj Rupda, translated from Hindi by Hansda Sowvendra Shekhar
4. Dudiya – In Your Burning Land, by Vishwas Patil, translated from Marathi by Nadeem Khan
5. Mithun Number Two, by Jayant Kaikini, translated from Kannada by Tejaswini Niranjana
6. Fire Bird, by Perumal Murugan, translated from Tamil by Janani Kannan
7. Sakina’s Kiss, by Vivek Shanbhag, translated from Kannada by Srinath Perur
8. A Woman Burnt, by Imayam, translated from Tamil by GJV Prasad
9. Maria Just Maria, by Sandhya Mary, translated from Malayalam by Jayasree Kalathil
10. Fruits of the Barren Tree, by Lekhnath Chhetri, translated from Nepali by Anurag Basnet
In the translations category, the focus is on bringing regional language masterpieces to a wider audience through English translations. The selection reflects the linguistic and cultural diversity of India, highlighting extraordinary works across languages like Assamese, Tamil, Konkani, and more.
Children’s (Longlist)
1. Zen, by Shabnam Minwalla
2. The Henna Start-Up, by Andaleeb Wajid
3. Bipathu and a Very Big Dream, by Anita Nair
4. The Case of the Vanishing Gods, by Mallika Ravikumar
5. A Children’s History of India in 100 Objects, by Devika Cariapa
6. Mommies, by Richa Jha and Priya Sebastian
7. From Makaras to Manticores, by C. G. Salamander and Sheena Deviah
8. Are There Bun Shops in the Jungles of India?, by Nandini Nayar
9. The Dog with Two Names: Stories that Celebrate Diversity, by Nandita Da Cunha
10. The Misadventures of a Diamond Thief, by Lubaina Bandukwala
The children’s longlist reflects a wide range of stories designed to captivate the imaginations of young readers. From Shabnam Minwalla’s Zen to Mallika Ravikumar’s The Case of the Vanishing Gods, these books offer a blend of creativity, cultural depth, and adventure.
Business and Management (Longlist)
1. Accelerating India’s Development: A State-led Roadmap For Effective Governance, by Karthik Muralidharan
2. Al Rising: India’s Artificial Intelligence Growth Story, by Leslie D’Monte and Jayanth N. Kolla
3. Exprovement: Exponential Improvements Through Converging Parallels, by Hersh Haladker and Raghunath Anant Mashelkar
4. Farmer Sutra, by Kalpana Manivannan
5. Inside the Boardroom: How Behaviour Trumps Rationality, by R. Gopalakrishnan and Tulsi Jayakumar
6. Lilliput Land: How Small Is Driving India’s Mega Consumption Story, by Rama Bijapurkar
7. Mastering the Data Paradox, by Nitin Seth
8. The Eight Per Cent Solution: A Strategy for India’s Growth, by Nikhil Gupta
9. Unfiltered: The CEO and the Coach, by Ana Lueneburger and Saurabh Mukherjea
10. When the Chips Are Down, by Pranay Kotasthane and Abhiram Manchi
With insightful analyses of India’s economic growth, governance, and technological advancements, the business and management category offers an impressive range of topics relevant to India’s future. Books like Al Rising and Exprovement have already started important conversations about India’s AI potential and strategic development.
A Jury of Experts
The Crossword Book Awards has always maintained its reputation for excellence by assembling highly respected juries in each category. These juries are composed of renowned writers, critics, journalists, and industry experts. In 2024, the Fiction category is being judged by Prayaag Akbar, Manjula Narayan, and Somak Ghoshal, while the Non-fiction panel includes TCA Raghavan, Kaveree Bamzai, and Anuradha Sengupta. Other categories feature similarly illustrious juries, ensuring that each book is evaluated with rigor and fairness.
The Road Ahead: What to Expect
The shortlist for the Crossword Book Awards 2024 will be announced on 11th November, and the voting for the Popular Choice Awards will commence soon after. The final awards ceremony is scheduled for 12th December in Mumbai, where literary icons, publishing professionals, and celebrated authors will gather for an evening of celebration and recognition.
With the return of the Crossword Book Awards, Indian literature in English is once again in the spotlight,
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