Community hub
0 subscribers7 pages, 0 posts
Recent from talks
All channels
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Contribute something
Welcome to the community hub built to collect knowledge and have discussions related to JCB Prize.
Nothing was collected or created yet.
JCB Prize
View on Wikipediafrom Wikipedia
| JCB Prize | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | Literary Fiction |
| Awarded for | Distinguished work of fiction by an Indian writer (original English novel or translated fiction). |
| Sponsored by | JCB |
| Country |  India India |
| Reward | ₹2,500,000 (US$30,000) |
| Established | 2018 |
| First award | 2018 |
| Highlights | |
| Total awarded | 5 |
| First winner | Benyamin (2018) |
| Most recent winner | Upamanyu Chatterjee (2024) |
| Website | www |
JCB Prize for Literature was an Indian literary award established in 2018.[1] It was awarded annually with ₹2,500,000 (US$30,000) prize to a distinguished work of fiction by an Indian writer working in English or translated fiction by an Indian writer. The winners will be announced each November with shortlists in October and longlists in September.[1] It has been called "India's most valuable literature prize".[2] Rana Dasgupta is the founding Literary Director of the JCB Prize.[3] In 2020, Mita Kapur was appointed as the new Literary Director.[4]
The JCB Literature Foundation was established to maintain the award. It is funded by the English construction manufacturing group JCB. Publishers are allowed, per imprint, to enter two novels originally written in English and two novels translated into English from another language.[1] Celebrated writers like Geetanjali Shree, Perumal Murugan, Geet Chaturvedi, Benyamin, and Upamanyu Chatterjee have all been featured on the longlists and shortlists of this prestigious award.
Honourees
[edit]Winners indicated with a blue ribbon (
).
2018
[edit]The inaugural JCB Prize longlist was announced in September 2018.[5][6] The 5-member shortlist was announced October 2018.[7] The winner was announced October 25, 2018.[2]
- Amitabha Bagchi, Half the Night is Gone
Benyamin, Jasmine Days (Translated from Malayalam by Shahnaz Habib)- Perumal Murugan, Poonachi (Translated from Tamil by N Kalyan Raman)
- Anuradha Roy, All the Lives We Never Lived
- Shubhangi Swarup, Latitudes of Longing
2019
[edit]The longlist was announced September 2019.[8][9] The five-member shortlist was announced November 2019.[10] The winner was announced November 5, 2019.[11]
- Roshan Ali, Ib's Endless Search for Satisfaction
- Manoranjan Byapari, There's Gunpowder in the Air (Translated from Bengali by Arunava Sinha)
- Perumal Murugan, A Lonely Harvest and Trial by Silence (Both translated from Tamil by Aniruddhan Vasudevan)
- Hansda Sowvendra Shekhar, My Father's Garden
- Madhuri Vijay, The Far Field
2020
[edit]The longlist was announced in September, 2020.[12][13] The shortlist was announced on 25 September 2020.[14] The winner was announced on November 7, 2020.[15]
- Deepa Anappara, Djinn Patrol on the Purple Line
- Samit Basu, Chosen Spirits
- Dharini Bhaskar, These, Our Bodies, Possessed by Light
- S. Hareesh, Moustache (Translated from Malayalam by Jayasree Kalathil)
- Annie Zaidi, Prelude to a Riot
2021
[edit]The longlist was announced in September, 2021.[16][17] The shortlist was announced on October 4, 2021.[18][19] The winner was announced on November 13, 2021.[20]
- VJ James, Anti-Clock (Translated from the Malayalam by Ministhy S)
- Daribha Lyndem, Name Place Animal Thing
- Shabir Ahmad Mir, The Plague Upon Us
- M Mukundan, Delhi: A Soliloquy (Translated from the Malayalam by Fathima EV and Nandakumar K)
- Lindsay Pereira, Gods and Ends
2022
[edit]
The longlist was announced on 3 September 2022.[21] The shortlist was announced on 21 October 2022. For the first time in five years, all five books on the shortlist were translated books.[22][23][24] The winner was announced on 19 November 2022.[25]
- Manoranjan Byapari, Imaan (Translated from the Bengali by Arunava Sinha)
- Chuden Kabimo, Song of the Soil (Translated from the Nepali by Ajit Baral)
- Khalid Jawed, The Paradise of Food (Translated from the Urdu by Baran Farooqi)
- Geetanjali Shree, Tomb of Sand (Translated from the Hindi by Daisy Rockwell)
- Sheela Tomy, Valli (Translated from the Malayalam by Jayasree Kalathil)
2023
[edit]- Tejaswini Apte-Rahm, The Secret of More
- Manoranjan Byapari, The Nemesis (Translated from the Bengali by V. Ramaswamy)
- Perumal Murugan, Fire Bird (Translated from the Tamil by Janani Kannan)
- Vikramjit Ram, Mansur
- Manoj Rupda, I Named My Sister Silence (Translated from the Hindi by Hansda Sowvendra Shekhar)
2024
[edit]- Sharankumar Limable, Sanatan (Translated by Paromita Sengupta into English from the Hindi translation of the original Marathi)
- Upamanyu Chatterjee, Lorenzo Searches for the Meaning of Life
- Saharu Nusaiba Kannanari, Chronicle of an Hour and a Half
- Sakyajit Bhattacharya, The One Legged (Translated from the Bengali by Rituparna Mukherjee)
- Sandhya Maria, Maria, Just Maria (Translated from the Malayalam by Jayasree Kalathil)
References
[edit]- ^ a b c "The JCB Prize for Literature worth Rs 25 lakh will accept entries from March 1 for Indian fiction". Scroll.in. Retrieved February 28, 2018.
- ^ a b Mary McDougall (October 25, 2018). "India's most valuable literature prize announces its first winner". CNN (Asia). Retrieved June 19, 2020.
- ^ "I continue to write till I am exhausted: Rana Dasgupta". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 2020-11-30.
- ^ Ghoshal, Somak (2020-02-14). "'I want to take the JCB Prize to the smaller towns and cities': Mita Kapur". mint. Retrieved 2020-11-30.
- ^ "Two debut writers shine among literary giants". Livemint.
- ^ "JCB Prize 2018 Longlist and Shortlist". The JCB Prize.
- ^ "JCB Prize 2018 shortlist announced; top five includes books by Perumal Murugan, Anuradha Roy". Firstpost. October 3, 2018. Retrieved June 19, 2020.
- ^ "Long list for 2019 JCB Prize for Literature is out". The Hindu. September 4, 2019. Retrieved June 19, 2020.
- ^ "JCB Prize Longlist and Shortlist, 2019". The JCB Prize.
- ^ Damini Babbar (November 1, 2019). "Meet Shortlisted Nominees Of The JCB Prize For Literature In This Engaging Video Series". Outlook India. Retrieved June 19, 2020.
- ^ "'There is nothing absolute in fiction': Madhuri Vijay". The Indian Express. 2019-11-05. Retrieved 2019-11-05.
- ^ Patni, Suhasini. "A reader's guide to the ten books on the Rs 25-lakh JCB Prize for Literature 2020 longlist". Scroll.in. Retrieved 2020-09-01.
- ^ "Megha Majumdar, Samit Basu, Annie Zaidi On JCB Prize Longlist". HuffPost India. 2020-09-01. Retrieved 2020-09-01.
- ^ "JCB Prize for Literature 2020: Deepa Anappara, Dharini Bhaskar among five authors in the shortlist". Firstpost. 2020-09-25. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
- ^ "Malayalam author S Hareesh wins the JCB Prize for Literature 2020". The Indian Express. 2020-11-07. Retrieved 2020-11-07.
- ^ "2021 JCB Prize for Literature longlist is announced". The Indian Express. 2021-09-06. Retrieved 2021-10-04.
- ^ Scroll Staff. "JCB Prize for Literature 2021: What you'll read if you start on the 10 novels on the longlist". Scroll.in. Retrieved 2021-10-04.
- ^ "Debuts and translations make up the JCB Prize 2021 shortlist". Mintlounge. 2021-10-04. Retrieved 2021-10-04.
- ^ Scroll Staff. "JCB Prize shortlist 2021: VJ James, Daribha Lyndem, Shabir Ahmad Mir, M Mukundan, Lindsay Pereira". Scroll.in. Retrieved 2021-10-04.
- ^ "Congratulations to M.Mukundan, Fathima E.V and Nandakumar.K for winning the JCB Prize for Literature 2021". JCB prize for literature (Twitter). 2021-11-13. Retrieved 2021-11-13.
- ^ "JCB Prize for Literature announces 2022's longlist of 10 'incredible' books". The Indian Express. 2022-09-03. Retrieved 2022-10-22.
- ^ Scroll Staff. "Translated books take all five spots on the 2022 JCB Prize for Literature shortlist". Scroll.in. Retrieved 2022-10-22.
- ^ "Hindi, Urdu, Nepali Books Debut on JCB Prize Shortlist Comprising Entirely of Translations". The Wire. Retrieved 2022-10-22.
- ^ "JCB shortlist announced, Geetanjali Shree's 'Tomb of Sand' nominated". The Indian Express. 2022-10-21. Retrieved 2022-10-22.
- ^ "The Paradise of Food wins JCB Prize for Literature". The Hindu. 2022-11-19. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2022-11-20.
External links
[edit]- JCB Prize website
JCB Prize
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
- 2018: Jasmine Days by Benyamin (translated from Malayalam by Shahnaz Habib), a satirical novel exploring immigrant life in a fictional Middle Eastern city.[8]
- 2019: The Far Field by Madhuri Vijay, a debut novel delving into Kashmir's conflict through a young woman's journey.[8]
- 2020: Moustache by S. Hareesh (translated from Malayalam by Jayasree Kalathil), a subversive tale blending mythology and caste dynamics.[8]
- 2021: Tomb of Sand by Geetanjali Shree (translated from Hindi by Daisy Rockwell), which later won the International Booker Prize, marking a historic achievement for Indian literature.[2]
- 2022: The Book of Everlasting Things by Aanchal Malhotra, a historical epic on partition and perfumery in pre-independence India.[7]
- 2023: Fire Bird by Perumal Murugan (translated from Tamil by Janani Kannan), a novel depicting a man's journey of self-discovery after being displaced from his ancestral home.[5]
- 2024: Lorenzo Searches for the Meaning of Life by Upamanyu Chatterjee, a philosophical narrative following an Italian monk's encounters in India.[1][9]
Background
Establishment
The JCB Prize for Literature was established in 2018 through the creation of the JCB Literature Foundation, a not-for-profit organization sponsored by JCB, the global manufacturer of construction equipment founded in 1945 by Joseph Cyril Bamford in the United Kingdom.[11][12] The prize was conceptualized by Lord Anthony Bamford, JCB's chairman, as a means to foster a lasting cultural legacy in India, where the company has maintained a significant presence since entering the market in 1979. This initiative aligned with JCB's broader corporate social responsibility efforts to support and elevate contemporary Indian writing, particularly works of fiction in English and translations from Indian languages, thereby bridging local narratives with global audiences.[11][13] The formal announcement and launch of the prize occurred on April 4, 2018, at The Imperial hotel in New Delhi, attended by prominent figures from the Indian literary community.[14] The event underscored the prize's ambition to recognize outstanding fiction by Indian authors or translators, with an emphasis on promoting diverse voices and innovative storytelling to enhance the international visibility of Indian literature.[14][12] Entries for the first cycle were accepted until May 31, 2018, focusing on eligible works of fiction published in the preceding period.[15] The inaugural longlist of ten titles was revealed in September 2018, followed by a shortlist in October, culminating in the announcement of the winner on October 25, 2018.[16][17] This debut cycle highlighted the prize's commitment to inclusivity, featuring a mix of original English works and translations, and set the stage for its role alongside established Indian literary honors like the Sahitya Akademi Award in championing national literary excellence.[12]Objectives and Scope
The JCB Prize for Literature was established to recognize and celebrate outstanding works of fiction by Indian authors, either originally written in English or translated into English from Indian languages, with a particular emphasis on amplifying underrepresented voices in contemporary Indian storytelling.[18] The prize seeks to enhance the prestige and commercial viability of modern Indian literature while elevating the role of literary writers within India's cultural and intellectual landscape.[18] By awarding ₹25 lakh to the winner, it aims to foster bold and innovative narratives that capture the diversity of Indian experiences.[19] The scope of the prize is strictly limited to substantial, unified works of fiction, such as novels, with a minimum length of 25,000 words, excluding poetry, short story collections, and plays.[18] Eligible entries must be by Indian citizens as defined by the Citizenship Act of 1955 and published in English during the preceding period, ensuring a focus on recent, high-caliber publications from India.[18] This narrow definition prioritizes literary excellence in prose fiction, distinguishing it from broader literary awards that may encompass non-fiction or other genres.[20] Culturally, the prize bridges Indian literature with global audiences by promoting translations that preserve and highlight regional languages, including Malayalam, Hindi, and Marathi, thereby making diverse narratives accessible beyond their original linguistic communities.[19] It underscores the importance of translation by providing financial recognition to translators—₹50,000 for shortlisted works and ₹10 lakh for the winning translated entry—aiming to unearth and elevate stories from India's multilingual heritage.[20][18] Unlike some literary initiatives that include non-fiction, the JCB Prize remains dedicated exclusively to fiction, reinforcing its commitment to imaginative and innovative prose.[18]Award Mechanics
Eligibility and Submission
The JCB Prize for Literature accepted submissions for full-length works of unified fiction, defined as at least 25,000 words, originally written in English by Indian authors or translated from any Indian language into English. Eligible works included novels but excluded poetry, short story collections, plays, self-published titles, and posthumous publications. Publications had to appear in India between August 1 of the previous year and July 31 of the award year, with an Indian ISBN issued by an India-based publisher liable for tax. Translations were required to have been originally published no earlier than ten years prior to the award year.[18][21] Authors were required to hold Indian citizenship as per the Citizenship Act, 1955, verified by documents such as a passport, Aadhaar card, voter ID, or birth certificate. Individuals affiliated with JCB Group entities or the prize's administering foundation were ineligible. Translators received distinct recognition, including a dedicated share of shortlist and winner prizes if the entry advanced, to promote the visibility of translated Indian fiction.[18][21] Submissions were handled exclusively by publishers, with an open call announced annually in March. Each publisher could enter up to four titles, limited to two original English works and two translations, to balance representation and encourage submissions from underrepresented linguistic traditions. The process required completing an online entry form via the official website, providing an electronic copy of the work, and delivering seven hard copies to independent auditors. Additional materials included proof of publication, ISBN details, and, for unpublished advance copies submitted before the deadline, confirmation of release by August 1. Queries and entries were directed to designated email addresses, such as [email protected]. Deadlines fell in late April (typically April 30), with a separate cutoff in late May for works called in by the literary director.[18][21] The guidelines evolved from the prize's inception in 2018, when publishers faced a looser requirement to include at least one translated work for every four English submissions, to more structured quotas by 2023 to foster diversity. Longlist announcements, comprising ten titles, were standardized for September each year, following the submission window for the prior year's publications. All entries remained confidential, with auditors overseeing the logistics to ensure impartiality.[12][18]Selection Process
The selection process for the JCB Prize for Literature is a multi-stage evaluation designed to identify outstanding works of fiction through rigorous scrutiny by an independent judging panel. Entries, submitted by publishers, are first vetted for eligibility by a third-party consulting firm before being forwarded to the jury. The jury then selects a longlist of 10 books, announced publicly in September, followed by a shortlist of 5 books in October, with the winner revealed at a ceremony in November.[18][22] The judging panel, comprising 3 to 5 members annually, includes literary experts, critics, authors, and professionals from diverse fields to provide balanced perspectives. Appointed each year by the Literary Director in consultation with the JCB Literature Foundation, the panel changes to ensure fresh evaluations; for instance, the 2018 jury was chaired by filmmaker Deepa Mehta and included author Vivek Shanbhag and translator Arshia Sattar. The jurors read and re-read all eligible entries, with deliberations involving virtual or in-person meetings facilitated by the third-party firm to maintain transparency and records.[18][23] Early panels featured prominent figures such as Jerry Pinto and Urvashi Butalia. The jurors read and re-read all eligible entries, with deliberations involving virtual or in-person meetings facilitated by the third-party firm to maintain transparency and records.[22] Evaluation emphasizes literary merit, including the texture and plot of the narrative, its compelling nature and readability, the alignment of characters' points of view with their language, and overall memorability, alongside originality, narrative innovation, and cultural significance in representing diverse Indian voices.[24] Consensus is reached through voting on the shortlist, resulting in a single winner with no ties; if the winning work is a translation, the translator receives a separate award.[18] All stages prioritize inclusivity, encompassing works in English or translated into English from Indian languages.[22]Winners
List of Winners
The JCB Prize for Literature has recognized outstanding works of fiction in English or translated into English since its inception in 2018. Below is a chronological list of all winners through 2024.| Year | Title | Author | Translator | Publisher | Brief Plot Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Jasmine Days | Benyamin | Shahnaz Habib (from Malayalam) | Juggernaut Books | The story centers on Sameera Parvin, a young Pakistani radio jockey navigating love, family, and revolution in an unnamed Middle Eastern city amid political unrest. [](https://m.thewire.in/article/books/malayalam-writer-benyamins-jasmine-days-wins-jcb-prize-for-literature) |
| 2019 | The Far Field | Madhuri Vijay | N/A | HarperCollins India (Fourth Estate) | In the aftermath of her mother's death, privileged Bangalore resident Shalini journeys to Kashmir to unravel the mystery of two friends who vanished 30 years earlier, confronting class, grief, and regional conflict. [](https://harpercollins.co.in/product/the-far-field/) |
| 2020 | Moustache | S. Hareesh | Jayasree Kalathil (from Malayalam) | HarperCollins India | A magical realist tale of Vavachan, a low-caste Pulaya man in rural Kerala whose iconic moustache grants him unexpected power, satirizing caste dynamics, masculinity, and folklore through interconnected vignettes. [](https://scroll.in/article/976543/moustache-this-magical-playful-novel-features-people-made-not-of-flesh-and-blood-but-of-stories) |
| 2021 | Tomb of Sand | Geetanjali Shree | Daisy Rockwell (from Hindi) | Penguin Hamish Hamilton | An 80-year-old woman, grieving her husband's death, refuses to leave her bed before embarking on a journey to Pakistan to confront her past tied to the Partition, exploring themes of grief, identity, and borders. [](https://www.thehindu.com/books/perumal-murugan-wins-jcb-prize-for-literature/article67548504.ece) |
| 2022 | The Book of Everlasting Things | Aanchal Malhotra | N/A | HarperCollins India | Set in pre-Partition Lahore, the novel follows a Hindu perfumer and a Muslim calligrapher whose budding romance is torn apart by the 1947 Partition, spanning decades of love, loss, and memory. [](https://harpercollins.co.in/product/the-book-of-everlasting-things/) |
| 2023 | Fire Bird | Perumal Murugan | Janani Kannan (from Tamil) | Penguin Random House India | A poignant coming-of-age story set in 1970s rural Tamil Nadu, following young Muthu as he leaves his village home, grapples with poverty, first love, and artistic aspirations amid societal pressures. [](https://www.thehindu.com/books/perumal-murugan-wins-jcb-prize-for-literature/article67548504.ece) |
| 2024 | Lorenzo Searches for the Meaning of Life | Upamanyu Chatterjee | N/A | Speaking Tiger | The narrative traces the life of Lorenzo Senesi, an Italian man born in 1958, as he confronts accident, illness, relationships, and existential questions over decades in a reflective, episodic structure. [](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/books/features/upamanyu-chatterjee-wins-jcb-prize-for-literature-2024-for-lorenzo-searches-for-the-meaning-of-life/articleshow/115627624.cms) |
[](https://www.thehindu.com/books/madhuri-vijays-debut-novel-the-far-field-wins-2019-jcb-prize-for-literature/article29868835.ece)