Kashinath Singh Receives Lifetime Achievement Award As Banaras Lit Fest Honours Literary Icons

Delhi, India - February 23, 2025 - The Banaras Lit Fest, a distinguished celebration of literature and culture, proudly announces the winners of the Banaras Lit Fest Book Awards 2025.

Recognized as one of the most prestigious literary honors in India, these awards acknowledge exceptional contributions in poetry, fiction, non-fiction, and translation, bringing together some of the finest literary voices from across the nation.

This year's winning books embody the richness and diversity of Indian literature, addressing themes of identity, history, language, and contemporary issues with remarkable depth and insight.

The awards seek to celebrate literary artistry that challenges conventions, inspires thought, and enriches the cultural fabric of our society.

The official announcement took place at the festival's curtain-raiser event on February 23, 2025, at PHDCCI House, New Delhi. Each winner will receive a cash prize of Rs 51,000, along with a certificate and a trophy, which will be presented during the grand Banaras Lit Fest, scheduled from March 7 to 9, 2025, at Hotel Taj, Banaras.

Celebrating Literary Luminaries

Congratulating the winners, Deepak Madhok, President of Banaras Lit Fest, remarked, 'The Banaras Lit Fest Book Awards stand as a beacon of literary brilliance, recognizing works that challenge, transform, and elevate the literary discourse of our times.

The winners this year have not only showcased exceptional storytelling and scholarly rigor but have also illuminated the vast and vibrant landscape of Indian literature. We are honoured to celebrate their extraordinary contributions."

Brijesh Singh, Founder and Secretary of Banaras Lit Fest, added, "We extend our heartfelt congratulations to all the winners, whose literary excellence has set new benchmarks. Their works represent the finest in contemporary writing, reflecting deep intellectual and artistic commitment. We are also profoundly grateful to our esteemed jury, led by eminent scholar Prof. Jatin Nayak, alongside Prof. Banibrata Mahanta, Dr. Priti Choudhary, Dr. Lalit Kumar, and Dr. Pravin Kumar, for their rigorous and dedicated selection process. The inception of this award was envisioned by our esteemed team member Ashutosh Kumar Thakur, and today, it stands as a proof to our commitment to literature and culture."

Winners of the Banaras Lit Fest Book Awards 2025

Kabir Award for Poetry (Hindi)

आत्मद्रोह - आर. चेतनक्रांति (राजकमल प्रकाशन)

Rahul Sankrityayan Award for Non-Fiction (Hindi)

गार्जियनता - व्योमेश शुक्ल (रुख़ पब्लिकेशन)

Premchand Award for Fiction (Hindi)

आउशवित्ज: एक प्रेम कथा - गरिमा श्रीवास्तव (वाणी प्रकाशन)

Mahadevi Verma Award for Translation (Hindi)

नये भारत की दीमक लगी शहतीरें - परकाला प्रभाकर (अनुवाद: व्यालोक पाठक, राजकमल प्रकाशन)

Sarojini Naidu Award for Poetry (English)

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)

Rabindranath Tagore Award for Translation

The Keeper of Desolation: Stories - Chandan Pandey (Translated by Sayari Debnath, HarperCollins)

Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan Award for Non-Fiction

Tipu Sultan: The Saga of Mysore's Interregnum (1760-1799) - Vikram Sampath (Vintage Books)

Honouring Literary and Cultural Icons

In addition to the book awards, the Banaras Lit Fest will bestow the following special honours:
Bhartendu Harishchandra Lifetime Achievement Award (Rs 1,00,000)

Kashinath Singh, eminent Hindi writer

Banaras Lit Fest Kalidas Award for Scheduled Indian Language (Rs 51,000)

Radha Vallabh Tripathi - Eminent Writer

The Prestigious Gomati Devi Eminence Awards will be presented in Seven distinguished categories, with the Lifetime Achievement Award being conferred upon Dr. Dharmendra Jain.

Gomati Devi Eminence Award in Seven Categories (Rs 21,000 each Lifetime Achievement Award Rs 51,000)

1. Dr. S. Pranam Singh - Education, Literature, Fine Arts, and Culture
2. Dr. (Prof) Sanjay Rai - Science, Technology, Engineering, and Medicine (STEM) (AIIMS, Delhi)
3. Archana Garodia - Business and Entrepreneurship (Chairman, Touch Stone)
4. L. R. Tiwari - Public Service and Social Work
5. Sanjeev Kumar - Sports, Yoga, and Healthy Living
6. GAIL - Organization contributing to the empowerment of women, differently-abled, and marginalized communities
7. Dr. Dharmendra Jain - Professor of Cardiology, IMS BHU (Gomati Devi Lifetime Achievement Award)

Nav Bharat Sarjak Samman in Eleven Categories (Rs 11,000 each) to be declared on 28th February , 2025 and will be presented on 9th March 2025.

These accolades recognize individuals who have made monumental contributions to Indian literature, fostering linguistic and cultural diversity through their work.

As the Banaras Lit Fest prepares to host its grand celebration from March 7 to 9, 2025, it remains steadfast in its mission to promote literary excellence and intellectual engagement.

The festival eagerly anticipates welcoming authors, scholars, and literature enthusiasts from across India and beyond to celebrate the power of words and ideas.