| - Landmark Literature Live! Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Mahasweta Devi
- Tata and Landmark Awards to be an annual event at the Tata Literature Live! Mumbai LitFest
Mumbai: As four days of celebrating literature from across the spectrum were drawing to a close, the Tata Literature Live! Mumbai LitFest added yet another contribution to the field of literature in India — the establishment of the Tata and Landmark Awards to honour the Indian minds behind some of the best writing on the literature scene.
The Tata Literature Live! First Book Award was awarded to Siddhartha Mukherjee and the Landmark Literature Live! Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Mahasweta Devi.
The Tata Literature Live! First Book Award was presented by Philip Auld, CEO, Trent, to Siddhartha Mukherjee for his marvellous book, Emperor of All Maladies. The prize included a cheque for Rs1 lakh and a silver plaque. Dr Mukherjee said that it was a real privilege for him because he had read some of the books that were nominated alongside his, such as Serious Men and One Little Finger and had been deeply moved by them. Dr Mukherjee also thanked the jury members and the organisers of Tata Literature Live! Mumbai LitFest for bestowing him with the award.
Attendees awaited the presentation of the second award with bated breath as Anil Dharker announced the name of Ms Devi, one of the most influential writers of post-independence India. She is known for her wide range of writings including short stories, novels, plays, essays, and so on, that compliment her life as a social activist. Mark Tully introduced her as a remarkable woman who had contributed to the lives of tribals and poor people who had until then been deprived of their basic rights. She was welcomed on stage by the audience with a standing ovation. Mr Tully spoke of her role as an activist, her insight into the tribal areas and her selfless dedication to her cause.
Ms Devi was presented with Rs5 lakh and a silver plaque. In a short speech she expressed her thanks and spoke a few words about her activities for the welfare of tribals, which she has carried on doing relentlessly. Talking about 30 years of working with tribals and the rural poor, Ms Devi said, “I have jumped where others’ feet would fail.” As an end to the short, moving thank-you speech, she added that the award money would be used to do something more for the people that she has worked with all her life.
The ceremony was hosted by Ashutosh Pandey, COO, Landmark, who spoke of the inception of these awards. The concept came about when the festival organisers and sponsors discussed the festival and realised that there was a need to highlight the major contribution to literature made by Indian authors. Thus, two awards were born. While the First Book Award to recognise debutant authors would resonate with the ethos and values of Tata group, the Lifetime Achievement Award would compliment Landmark’s commitment to celebrate good literature across the nation.
The jury for the Tata and Landmark Awards comprised Mr Tully, Dileep Padgaonkar, David Davidar, Ashutosh Pandey and festival director Anil Dharker. The nominees for the Tata Literature Live! First Book Award were:
- Raghav Bahl for Superpower
- Malini Chib for One Little Finger
- Siddhartha Mukherjee for Emperor of All Maladies
- Prakash Iyer for Habit of Winning
- Anjali Joseph for Saraswati Park
- Manu Joseph for Serious Men
In final thanks, Mr Dharker, festival director, announced, to much applause and approval, that these awards would now be an annual phenomenon. |
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