Banaras Lit Fest Book Awards 2025: Celebrating Finest In Indian Literature

Varanasi, India - February 9, 2025 - The Banaras Lit Fest, a grand celebration of literature and culture, proudly announces the shortlist for the Banaras Lit Fest Book Awards 2025.

Regarded as one of the most prestigious literary honours in India, the awards recognize excellence in poetry, fiction, non-fiction, and translation, bringing together both celebrated and emerging voices from across the country.

This year's shortlisted books reflect the diverse and dynamic landscape of Indian literature, exploring themes of identity, history, language, and contemporary issues.

The awards aim to honour writers whose works challenge, inspire, and enrich readers, carrying forward India's glorious literary tradition.

The winners of the Banaras Lit Fest Book Awards 2025 will be officially announced at the festival's curtain-raiser event on February 23, 2025, at PHDCCI House, New Delhi.

They will receive a cash prize of Rs 51,000, along with a certificate and a trophy, which will be presented during the Banaras Lit Fest, scheduled to take place from March 7 to 9, 2025, at Hotel Taj, Banaras.

A Platform for Literary Excellence

Speaking about the announcement, Deepak Madhok, President of Banaras Lit Fest, stated 'The Banaras Lit Fest Book Awards are a testament to the power of literature in shaping societies.

This year's shortlisted works showcase an incredible range of storytelling, spanning poetry, fiction, and groundbreaking non-fiction. It is heartening to see literature thriving and evolving in such meaningful ways.'

Brijesh Singh, Founder and Secretary of Banaras Lit Fest, added 'We are delighted to announce this year's shortlist, featuring some of the most thought-provoking and impactful books of recent times.

Our esteemed juries have taken on the mammoth task of carefully preparing this magnificent list. The Banaras Lit Fest continues to be a platform that recognizes literary excellence and fosters meaningful dialogue in Indian literature.'

Shortlisted Books for Banaras Lit Fest Book Awards 2025

Kabir Award for Poetry (Hindi)
• कुछ भी वैसा नहीं - उमा शंकर चौधरी (राधा कृष्ण प्रकाशन)
• आत्मद्रोह - आर. चेतनक्रांति (राजकमल प्रकाशन)
• नीली बयाज़ - अदनान कफिल दरवेश (राजकमल प्रकाशन)
• फिर उगना - पार्वती तिर्की (राधा कृष्ण प्रकाशन)
• मोर्चे पर विदागीत - विहाग वैभव (राजकमल प्रकाशन)

Rahul Sankrityayan Award for Non-Fiction (Hindi)
• गाय_गेका की औरतें - जोराम तालाम नाबाम (राधा कृष्ण प्रकाशन)
• अल्लाह नाम की सियासत - हिलाल अहमद (सेतु प्रकाशन)
• इतिहास में अफ़वाह - शंभूनाथ (वाणी प्रकाशन)
• गार्जियनता - व्योमेश शुक्ल (रुख़ पब्लिकेशन)
• बोरसी भर आंच - यतीश कुमार (राधा कृष्ण प्रकाशन)

Premchand Award for Fiction (Hindi)
• अगम बहै दरियाव - शिवमूर्ति (राजकमल प्रकाशन)
• आउशवित्ज: एक प्रेम कथा - गरिमा श्रीवास्तव (वाणी प्रकाशन)
• तृन धरि ओट - अनामिका (वाणी प्रकाशन)
• हमनवाई न थी - तसनीम ख़ान (सेतु प्रकाशन)
• चक्काजाम - गौतम चौबे (राधा कृष्ण प्रकाशन)

Mahadevi Verma Award for Translation (Hindi)
• बरफ महल - थारयै वेसोस (अनुवाद: नीलाक्षी सिंह, सेतु प्रकाशन)
• आज़ादी - चित्रा बैनर्जी दिवाकरूणी (अनुवाद: नवेद अकबर, हार्पर हिंदी)
• नये भारत में दीमक लगी शहतीरें - परकाला प्रभाकर (अनुवाद: व्यालोक पाठक)
• सतरंगी दस्तरख्वान - सुमना रॉय और कुणाल रे (अनुवाद: वंदना राग व गीत चतुर्वेदी, राजकमल प्रकाशन)
• ग्रेट कंचना सर्कस - विश्वास पाटिल (अनुवाद: रवि बुले, वाणी प्रकाशन)

Sarojini Naidu Award for Poetry (English)
• To the Moon and Back: Life, Love and Everything In-between - Maria Goretti (Om Book International)
• Nostalgia: Crafting a Home Within - Mahua Sen (Red River)
• White Shirts of Summer: New and Selected Poems - Mamang Dai (Speaking Tiger)
• My Body Didn't Come Before Me: Poems - Kuhu Joshi (Speaking Tiger)
• I'll Have It Here: Poems - Jeet Thayil (HarperCollins)

Ruskin Bond Award for Fiction (English)
• The Patient in Bed Number 12 - Raj Kamal Jha (Penguin)
• Aunties of Vasant Kunj - Anuradha Marwah (Rupa)
• Deccan Queen: Take Two - Farrukh Dhondy (Om Book International)
• The Woman Who Climbed Trees - Smriti Ravindra (HarperCollins)
• Never Never Land - Namita Gokhale (Speaking Tiger)

Rabindranath Tagore Award for Translation
• Fire Bird - Perumal Murugan (Translated by Janani Kannan, Penguin)
• The Keeper of Desolation: Stories - Chandan Pandey (Translated by Sayari Debnath, HarperCollins)
• I Named My Sister Silence - Manoj Rupda (Translated by Hansda Sowvendra Shekhar, Eka, Westland Books)
• Sakina's Kiss - Vivek Shanbhag (Translated by Srinath Perur, Penguin)
• Boy, Unloved - Damodar Mauzo (Translated by Jerry Pinto, Speaking Tiger)

Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan Award for Non-Fiction
• Fire on the Ganges: Life Among Dead in Banaras - Radhika Iyengar (HarperCollins)
• Bharat Rising: Dharma, Democracy and Diplomacy - Utpal Kumar (BlueOne Ink)
• The Jannayak Karpoori Thakur: Voice of the Voiceless - Santosh Singh & Aditya Anmol (Penguin)
• How Prime Ministers Decide - Neerja Chowdhury (Aleph)
• Tipu Sultan: The Saga of Mysore's Interregnum (1760-1799) - Vikram Sampath (Vintage Books)

With its commitment to recognizing the finest literary works, the Banaras Lit Fest Book Awards continue to inspire and uplift voices from all corners of the literary world.

In addition to the book awards, the festival will also present special honours:
• Banaras Lit Fest Kalidas Award for Scheduled Indian Language (Rs 51,000)
• Bhartendu Harishchandra Lifetime Achievement Award (Rs 1,00,000)
• Gomati Devi Eminence Award in Seven Categories (Rs 21,000)
• Nav Bharat Sarjak Samman in Eleven Categories (Rs11,000)

These awards celebrate individuals who have made distinguished contributions to Indian literature, fostering linguistic and cultural diversity.

The festival looks forward to honouring the winners in the grand finale and furthering its mission of fostering intellectual and cultural discourse.