They've announced that Five books shortlisted for The Hindu Literary Prize.
I was a bit more excited about this prize last time around -- a time when the rules were more welcoming, as: "Works in English and translations from Indian languages are eligible" -- resulting also in a shortlist that included several (too many ?) works in translation (including one by Man Booker International Prize finalist U.R.Ananthamurthy).
So what happened this time, with the rules (warning ! dreaded pdf format !) changed so that: "Only original works in English will be eligible. Works in Indian languages and translations are not eligible" ?
Surely I'm not the only one who thinks this lessens the prize ? (And what the hell happened that they reverted to being an English-only prize ? Sure, The Economist Crossword Book Award has a translation category, but if you want to be the (or even a) premier Indian literary prize, surely you have to consider all Indian literature.)
I was a bit more excited about this prize last time around -- a time when the rules were more welcoming, as: "Works in English and translations from Indian languages are eligible" -- resulting also in a shortlist that included several (too many ?) works in translation (including one by Man Booker International Prize finalist U.R.Ananthamurthy).
So what happened this time, with the rules (warning ! dreaded pdf format !) changed so that: "Only original works in English will be eligible. Works in Indian languages and translations are not eligible" ?
Surely I'm not the only one who thinks this lessens the prize ? (And what the hell happened that they reverted to being an English-only prize ? Sure, The Economist Crossword Book Award has a translation category, but if you want to be the (or even a) premier Indian literary prize, surely you have to consider all Indian literature.)