Mumbai, India – The 2024 Crossword Book Awards celebrated a star-studded evening in Mumbai on December 8, spotlighting the year’s literary successes across a variety of genres and categories. The prestigious event, known for acknowledging exceptional literary contributions, awarded winners a cash prize of Rs 50,000 each and also honored distinguished writer Amitav Ghosh with the Lifetime Achievement Award.
The awards were decided by different juries for every category to ensure a fair and balanced judgment of the works. The Fiction category was judged by noted critics Manjula Narayan, Prayaag Akbar, and Somak Ghoshal, while the Nonfiction category was overseen by TCA Raghavan, Anuradha Sengupta, and Kaveree Bamzai. Experts in translations, Arshia Sattar, Nandini Nair, and Malashri Lal, took charge of evaluating translated works. Additionally, assessments of Children’s Books were handled by Paro Anand, Parvati Sharma, and Bulbul Sharma, whereas Business and Management saw inputs from Khozem Merchant, Shaili Chopra, and R Sriram.
Among the notable winners, Saharu Nusaiba Kannanari took home the Jury award for Fiction with her novel “Chronicle of an Hour and a Half” published by Westland. Meanwhile, the Popular Choice Award was claimed by Twinkle Khanna for her book “Welcome to Paradise” from Juggernaut, showcasing a significant public appeal.
In Nonfiction, the jury selected “City on Fire: A Boyhood in Aligarh” by Zeyad Masroor Khan, published by HarperCollins India, as their top pick. The popular vote went to “Kitne Ghazi Aye Kitne Ghazi Gaye: My Life Story” by Lt Gen KJS ‘Tiny’ Dhillon, published by Penguin India, which resonated deeply with readers.
The Children’s books category featured twin jury awards for “The Henna Start-Up” by Andaleeb Wajid and “Zen” by Shabnam Minwala, both from DuckBill Books. “All-time Favourite Nature Stories” by Ruskin Bond, illustrated by David Yambem from Puffin Books, won the Popular Choice.
In the realm of Business and Management, Karthik Muralidharan’s “Accelerating India’s Development: A State-led Roadmap for Effective Governance,” published by Penguin India, earned the jury nod. “Chanakya’s 100 Best Sutras: Ageless Wisdom for Unlocking Your Potential and Achieving Your Goals” by Radhakrishnan Pillai, from Jaico Publishing, captivated the audience for the Popular Choice award.
Translations also saw critical favorites with “Maria Just Maria” by Sandhya Mary, translated from Malayalam by Jayasree Kalathil, HarperCollins India taking the jury award, contrasting with “Conversations with Aurangzeb: A Novel” by Charu Nivedita, translated from Tamil by Nandini Krishnan, HarperCollins India, which won the Popular Choice.
Additionally, the Mind Body and Spirit category recognized “Energize Your Mind: Learn the Art of Mastering Your Thoughts, Feelings and Emotions” by Gaur Gopal Das, Penguin India, as the popular choice winner.
The title of Crossword Bestseller 2024 was bestowed upon “Make Epic Money” by Ankur Warikoo, Penguin India, marking it as the highest-selling book of the year.
The Crossword Book Awards not only stand as a testament to literary excellence but also reflect the diverse and rich panorama of contemporary literature, underlining the cultural dialogue that books stimulate among readers of all ages and backgrounds.
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