The Chandigarh Literary Society (CLS) has announced the longlist for the inaugural CLF Literati Awards 2025, presented to honor exceptional works of fiction and non-fiction in English and Hindi. The newly created awards aim to celebrate the creativity, originality and cultural impact of contemporary Indian writing across genres.
Festival director Dr Sumita Misra, who is also the chairperson of CLS, said the initiative seeks to honor stories and ideas that inspire readers and reflect the diversity of literary imagination in India. “Literature shapes the way we see our world and ourselves,” she said. “Through the CLF Literati Awards, we aim to recognize works that enrich our collective consciousness and support the spirit of creative excellence.”
The awards will be presented during the 13th edition of Chandigarh Literary Festival – Literati 2025, which will be held on November 22-23 at Sukhna Lake in Chandigarh. The festival is one of the leading literary gatherings in North India and attracts authors, poets, publishers and literature lovers from all over the country.
According to Misra, CLS received more than 350 submissions from top publishers nationwide. Entries reflected a wide range of topics and approaches, from political analysis and environmental thought to mythological reinterpretation and contemporary fantasy.
A distinguished jury will now evaluate the longlisted titles to shortlist and finalize the winners, who will be felicitated at the festival with a cash prize, citation and trophy.
In the English-language non-fiction category, the longlist includes many well-known names including Ajay Bisaria (Anger Management: Troubled Diplomatic Relations between India and Pakistan), Amitabh Kant (How India Climbed the G20 Mountain), Amitav Ghosh (Wild Stories: Essays), Devdutt Pattanaik (Ahimsa: 100 Reflections on a Harappan Civilization), Ramachandra Guha (Talking with Nature: The Origins of Indian Environmentalism), and Shashi Tharoor (The Wonderland of The Word: About the Word in 101 Essays), and Ruskin Bond (Another Day in Landor: Looking Out My Window).
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In the English fiction category, the list includes prominent authors such as Anita Desai (Rosarita), Jeet Thayil (The Others), Ani Zaidi (The Return), Ashwin Sanghi (Ayodhya Alliance), Amarjit Sidhu (The River Returns), Anuradha Marwah (Vasant Kunj’s Aunts), and Steven Alter (The Greatest Game).
The Indian Fiction and Non-Fiction section features popular writers like Anju Ranjan (Sheetal Dhoop), Anurag Anant (Mohavar Ki Maut), Manoj Kumar Pandey (Pratirup), Padmaja (Main Koi Aur), Kailash Wankhede (Ojla Indira), Yatish Kumar (Bursi Bhar Aansh), among others.
Organizers say the CLF Literati Awards aim to recognize literary excellence beyond urban circles and encourage established and emerging voices. Through this initiative, CLS hopes to build a vibrant platform that honors writers who continue to shape the literary and cultural narrative in India.
(The author is an intern at The Indian Express)
(TagsFor translation)Chandigarh Literary Society
