JCB Prize for Literature announces diverse shortlist in fifth year

The shortlist finds representation from 5 languages- Urdu, Hindi, Bangla, Nepali, and Malayalam.

The shortlisted novels for 2022 were:

1. Imaan by Manoranjan Byapari, translated from the Bengali by Arunava Sinha (Eka)                                                                                 

2. The Paradise of Food by Khalid Jawed, translated from the Urdu by Baran Farooqi (Juggernaut)                                                             

3. Valli by Sheela Tomy, translated from the Malayalam by Jayasree Kalathil (Harper Perennial)                                                                     

4. Tomb of Sand by Geetanjali Shree, translated from the Hindi by Daisy Rockwell (Penguin Random House India)                               

5. Song of the Soil by Chuden Kabimo, translated from the Nepali by Ajit Baral (Rachna Books)

Commenting on the shortlist, Mita Kapur, Literary Director, virtually said, "We are able to use language and create a world of wonder. This year our publisher sent us a rich collection of books that are vigorous, transformable and experimental. These 5 shortlisted books have transcended borders and boundaries.

"The jury immersed themselves into the different India and were moved in ways. These books have a courageous playfulness of seeking the way from between shadows of the past and realities of the present. By creating new and engrossing realities, they took us when we were younger and just discovering the world."

The announcement of the shortlist was followed by reading sessions from the shortlisted titles by Jayant Kriplani, Paramita Saha and Sandip Roy.

The jury for this year are AS Panneerselvan (chair), Amitbha Bagchi, Dr. J Devika, Janice Pariat and Rakhee Balaeram.

These shortlisted books share a common denominator, a rich and varied story and a language that surprises and delights.

(Reporting by Ayush Gupta)