New Delhi: The Valley of Words (VoW) Book Awards is more than just an awards ceremony, it’s the cornerstone of a vibrant festival dedicated to nurturing a thriving literary and artistic community. Through its Book Awards, VoW celebrates exceptional works across various categories, including translations and Hindi language titles, fostering dialogue and inspiring readers, writers, and artists.
Each year, VoW receives a staggering number of nominations, with over 600 entries from 70 publishers across India. Its commitment to diversity is reflected in the shortlisted works, as Juror Mandira Shah (2023 VoW Book Awards Winner in young adult category for Children of the Hidden Land) highlights. The 2024 Shortlist, she said, offers a “tangible connection to our diverse and rich heritage”.
Fellow juror Achintyarup Ray (2023 VoW Book Awards winner in the children’s literature category for Jhupli’s Honey Box), involved in the children’s literature category, echoed this sentiment. “Exploring the magical worlds” created by talented authors and illustrators was a delight, he said, acknowledging the difficulty of selecting just five books from a pool of exceptional entries. Ultimately, creativity, depth, and the ability to captivate young readers’ imaginations set the chosen few apart, he added.
For Ishtiaq Ahmed, participating in the selection process for the English non-fiction category marked his second time serving on the VoW jury.
This dedication from esteemed figures speaks volumes about the importance of VoW’s mission.
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Amrita Bera, the translator and 2023 VoW Book Awards winner in the Hindi translation category (for Bhaga Hua Ladka), brought her expertise to the jury table this year. She played a key role in selecting the shortlisted titles for Hindi translations. Remarking on the exceptional quality of the submissions, Bera said that “the meticulous care and attention to detail” was evident in these works. This dedication to excellence, she noted, mirrored the rigorous selection process for titles in both English and Hindi categories.
Another acclaimed jury member, L.S. Bajpai, offered his insights into the selection process for the Hindi non-fiction category. He candidly spoke of the difficulty in narrowing down the nominees to just five shortlisted titles. The sheer quality of the submissions, he emphasised, presented a significant challenge for the jury. This testament to the vibrant landscape of Hindi non-fiction further underscores the importance of recognising exceptional works through the VoW Book Awards.
VoW will celebrate National Reading Month (from 19 June to 19 July) by unveiling its Book Awards Shortlist, honouring the legacy of P.N. Panicker, also known as the “father of the library movement” in Kerala, India. Fueled by a deep belief in the power of reading, Panicker established the first rural library in his village in 1926. His unwavering dedication led to the formation of the Thiruvithaamkoor Granthasala Sangham (Travancore Library Association) in 1945, a network that grew to encompass over 6,000 libraries. Panicker’s tireless efforts, including his iconic slogan “Read and Grow”, played a pivotal role in Kerala’s remarkable achievement of near-universal literacy by the 1990s. His legacy lives on through the Kerala State Library Council and Reading Day, celebrated annually on his death anniversary — 19 June. Panicker’s dedication to promoting knowledge and empowering communities through access to books continues to inspire generations of readers in Kerala and all over India.
The 8 categories of VoW Book Awards include English Translation, Hindi Translation, English Non-fiction, Hindi Non-fiction, English Fiction, Hindi Fiction, Young Adult, and Children’s Literature (Bilingual).
The winners of Book Awards 2023 were:
ENGLISH FICTION: No Way In, by Udayan Mukherjee (Bloomsbury )
ENGLISH NON-FICTION: The Journey of Hindi Language Journalism in India, by Mrinal Pande (Orient Blackswan Pvt Ltd)
HINDI FICTION: Shahar Se Das Kilometer, by Neelesh Raghuwanshi (Rajkamal Publications)
HINDI NON- FICTION: Dinank kay Bina, by Ushakiran Khan (Vani Publications)
WRITINGS FOR YOUNG ADULTS: Children of the Hidden Land, by Mandira Shah (Speaking Tiger)
WRITINGS/PICTURE BOOKS FOR CHILDREN: Jhupli’s Honey Box, by Achintyarup Ray (Tulika Publishers)
TRANSLATION INTO HINDI: Bhaaga Hua Ladka, translated by Amrita Bera (Westland)
TRANSLATION INTO ENGLISH: The Bride: The Maithili Classic Kanyadan, translated by Lalit Kumar (HarperCollins)
ThePrint is the digital media partner for the Valley of Words Book Awards 2024