Sixteen novels longlisted for $25,000 DSC Prize for South Asian Literature

Sixteen novels were longlisted on Wednesday for the $25,000 DSC Prize for South Asian Literature.

The longlist was unveiled at the Oxford Bookstore here and features four translated works from Assamese, Kannada, Tamil and Hindi. Six of the longlisted authors are women, besides three other women translators. Two debut novels have also been recognised by the jury panel, chaired by historian and academic Rudrangshu Mukherjee.

"The longlist represents the best of South Asian fiction writing over the last year and includes submissions from a diverse mix of publishers and authors of different backgrounds writing on a wide range of issues and themes. The novels include stunning portrayals of migration, war and the pain of displacement, poignant love stories, the exploration of new found relationships and identities, and vivification of the personal struggles, hopes and aspirations that symbolize the urgent and divisive realities of contemporary South Asian life," the Prize committee said in a statement.

Apart from authors based in South Asia, it also features those based outside the region who have brought alive the subtle nuances of South Asian life and culture.

Among the longlisted authors and their works are: Anuradha Roy for "All The Lives We Never Lived"; Arundhati Roy for "The Ministry Of Utmost Happiness"; Chandrakanta for "The Saga Of Satisar", translated by Ranjana Kaul; Deepak Unnikrishnan for "Temporary People"; Jayant Kaikini for "No Presents Please", translated by Tejaswini Niranjana; Jeet Thayil for "The Book Of Chocolate Saints"; and Kamila Shamsie for "Home Fire".

The longlist further features Manu Joseph for "Miss Laila Armed And Dangerous"; Mohsin Hamid for "Exit West"; Neel Mukherjee for "A State Of Freedom"; Perumal Murugan for "Poonachi", translated by N. Kalyan Raman; Prayaag Akbar for "Leila"; Rita Chowdhury for "Chinatown Days", translated by Rita Chowdhury; SJ Sindu for "Marriage Of A Thousand Lies"; Sujit Saraf for "Harilal & Sons"; and Tabish Khair for "Night Of Happiness".

The jury will now deliberate on the longlist over the next month and the shortlist of five or six books for the DSC Prize 2018 will be announced on November 14 at the London School of Economics & Political Science (LSE) in London.

(With inputs from agencies.)