Stories foster vulnerability, empathy, and connection between writers and readers. Indian literature, particularly in Hindi and English fiction, serves as a cultural mirror, sharing the Indian experience globally.
In an interview last year, author Salman Rushdie, reflecting on his near-death experience in New York, remarked, „Dictators fear poets,“ despite writers lacking armies.
Rushdie is shortlisted for the English fiction category of the 2024 Valley of Words (VoW) Book Awards. VoW has been announcing its shortlist weekly during P.N. Panicker Reading Month (9 June to 19 July).
Who made it?
The selection features insightful non-fiction in Hindi and English, as well as significant translations of Bhashas of Bharat into both languages, highlighting the importance of these works in a divided world.
English fiction often employs a precisely stylised writing style when appropriate, while Hindi fiction tends to be more rhythmic. Both, however, showcase regional variance.
Professor Surekha Dangwal, an English fiction jury member, noted that this year’s shortlist includes stories about the partition, societal constraints on women and marginalised groups, and an epic reimagining of a lost Indian tale. One book addresses the struggles of Tibetan exiles. The 2024 VoW English Fiction shortlist includes:
Tsering Yangzom Lama’s „We Measure the Earth with Our Bodies“ (Bloomsbury), Smriti Ravindra’s „The Woman Who Climbed Trees“ (HarperCollins), Aanchal Malhotra’s „The Book of Everlasting Things“ (HarperCollins), Sarbpreet Singh’s „The Sufi’s Nightingale“ (Speaking Tiger) and Salman Rushdie’s „Victory City“ (Penguin).
Neelesh Raghuvanshi, the Hindi fiction juror, described the selection process as challenging. The chosen tales explore themes of tenacity, existence, and hope, blending magical elements with realistic complexity and social commentary. The 2024 VoW Hindi Fiction shortlist includes:
Prabhat Pranit’s „Vaishalinama: Loktantra ki Janmkatha“ (Radhakrishna), Lovely Goswami’s „Vanika“ (Vani), Uday Prakash’s „Antim Nimbu“ (Vani), Geet Chaturvedi’s „Simsim“ (Hindi Yugm) and Upasana’s „Dariya Bandar Kot“ (Hindi Yugm).
As they commemorate the accomplishments of these esteemed authors, let them not forget the profound impact that literature has on their lives and cultures, transcending linguistic boundaries.