Unveiling the Literary Champions: Crossword Book Awards 2024 Winners Announced
—
Mumbai, 9th December 2024 – As I stepped into the grand ballroom of The LaLiT Mumbai, the air was thick with anticipation. It was a night to honor the masters of the written word, a congregation of minds and muses at the Crossword Book Awards 2024, where the literary elite and enthusiastic readers came together in a shared celebration of creativity and culture.
Drumrolls echoed in my mind as I stood among a sea of bibliophiles, the pulse of the evening reverberating through whispered conversations and the rustle of pages. This wasn’t just another awards ceremony—it was a symphony of stories, a vibrant tapestry woven from words, ideas, and aspirations.
The return of the iconic Crossword Book Awards was a statement, a reaffirmation of our collective love for the transformative power of books. You, too, would have felt it, that inexplicable pull towards stories that stir your soul.
—
A Celebration Like No Other
Picture this: luminaries like Twinkle Khanna, Ankur Warikoo, Kanan Gill, and Gaur Gopal Das gracing the stage, their presence a testament to the diverse realms literature now embraces. Whether you’re a fan of Twinkle’s wit or a seeker of Gaur Gopal Das’ wisdom, there was something magical about seeing these figures unite under one roof.
The evening was an intricate dance between nostalgia and innovation. Prahlad Kakkar, the celebrated ad-guru, delivered a keynote that was both enlightening and entertaining, while the likes of Bachi Karkaria, Anupama Chopra, and Cyrus Broacha ensured the event sparkled with their charisma.
I remember thinking how moments like these are both humbling and exhilarating. You could feel the collective heartbeat of a large passionate community that understands the gravity of words.
—
The Awards – A Kaleidoscope of Brilliance
Now, let’s journey through the winners’ roster—names that will echo in literary history.
In Fiction, the Jury Award was bestowed upon Saharu Nusaiba Kannanari for Chronicle of an Hour and a Half—a hauntingly beautiful narrative published by Westland Books. The Popular Choice Award went to the inimitable Twinkle Khanna for Welcome to Paradise, a Juggernaut Books publication that took readers on a journey as whimsical as it was profound.
Did you see this coming? Perhaps you rooted for another contender. Either way, it’s hard not to admire the storytelling prowess these authors bring to the table.
Non-Fiction celebrated the fire and finesse of investigative writing. Zeyad Masroor Khan’s City on Fire (HarperCollins Publishers India) clinched the Jury Award, while the Popular Choice Award honored Lt. Gen. K.J.S. Dhillon (Retd) for his remarkable work Kitne Ghazi Aaye Kitne Ghazi Gaye.
In Children’s Literature, a dual Jury win spotlighted Andaleeb Wajid (The Henna Start-up) and Shabnam Minwalla (Zen). Meanwhile, Ruskin Bond, the maestro of simplicity, charmed his way into the Popular Choice Award for All-time Favourite Nature Stories.
Business & Management, a category brimming with intellectual depth, saw Karthik Muralidharan (Accelerating India’s Development) and Radhakrishnan Pillai (Chanakya’s 100 Best Sutras) bag top honors.
Translations were a revelation. Sandhya Mary, translated by Jayasree Kalathil (Maria, Just Maria), won the Jury Award, while Charu Nivedita, translated by Nandini Krishnan, captured the Popular Choice Award for Conversations with Aurangzeb.
And then there was Mind, Body & Spirit, where the effervescent Gaur Gopal Das triumphed with Energize Your Mind.
When Ankur Warikoo received the Crossword Bestseller Award for Make Epic Money, the applause was deafening, a standing ovation for a book that had become a cultural phenomenon.
The crowning glory, however, was the Lifetime Achievement Award, bestowed upon the legendary Amitav Ghosh. As he took the stage, there was a profound silence—a collective acknowledgment of the man who had redefined storytelling for generations.
—
A Personal Reflection
Standing there, among such illustrious company, I couldn’t help but feel the weight of the moment. For every award given, there were countless untold stories, dreams scribbled in notebooks, and sleepless nights spent chasing the perfect sentence.
You’d agree, wouldn’t you, that the true magic of literature lies in its universality? Whether it’s Twinkle’s satire, Ruskin Bond’s nostalgia, or Gaur Gopal Das’ wisdom, these stories speak to us in ways both intimate and infinite.
—
A Future Fueled by Words
As the evening wound down, Aakash Gupta, CEO of Crossword Book Stores, captured the essence of the event:
“At Crossword, we believe in the transformative power of books to inspire, connect, and change the world.”
You could see it in the eyes of every attendee—a distinct flicker of hope, a renewed commitment to the written word. Nidhi Gupta, Director of Crossword Bookstores, echoed this sentiment:
“Crossword Book Awards is not merely an event; it is a storied legacy.”
And as I left The LaLiT, clutching a program and a heart full of inspiration, I found myself asking: Which of these award-winning books will I read first?
Perhaps you’re asking yourself the same question. So, let’s embark on this journey together. You must visit Crossword bookstore or explore their website. Who knows? You might just discover a book that changes your life.
—
Let’s keep celebrating the magic of reading. Let’s keep writing our own stories.
#CrosswordBookAwards #IndianLiterature #LiteraryAwards2024 #BooksOfTheYear #FictionAwards #NonFictionExcellence #AmitavGhosh #IndianAuthors #CelebrateReading #BookLovers
Poetry Hub 
Hello. Thanks for visiting. I’d love to hear your thoughts! What resonated with you in this piece? Drop a comment below and let’s start a conversation.