The Kalinga Literary Festival (KLF) has revealed the 2025 KLF Book Award winners, celebrating outstanding contributions across 12 categories such as fiction, non-fiction, poetry, business writing, translation, and children’s literature. The awards were presented by Union Minister for Tourism and Culture, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, recognising literary excellence in both English and Hindi, including debut works.
Acclaimed authors like Dr. Vikram Sampath (Tipu Sultan: The Saga of Mysore’s Interregnum), Vikas Swarup (The Girl with the Seven Lives), Jeet Thayil (I’ll Have It Here), and translator Arunava Sinha (Ten Days of the Strike: Selected Stories) are among the English category winners.
In Hindi, celebrated writers including Anant Vijay (Over the Top: OTT ka Mayajaal), Shiv Balak Misra (Gaanv Se Bees Postcard), Manisha Kulsherstha (Vanya), Sujata Shiven (Charu, Chivar Aur Charya), and Prabhat Ranjan (Kissagram) have been honoured for their exceptional literary works.
Chief Guest, Honourable Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, traditional lighting of Lamp
The award ceremony at the India International Centre (IIC), New Delhi, began with the traditional Lighting of the Lamp and Saraswati Vandana, symbolizing cultural reverence. The Chief Guest, Honourable Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, addressed the audience, highlighting the enduring power of storytelling in shaping India’s literary tradition. He said, “I extend my heartfelt congratulations to the esteemed authors whose wisdom and literary brilliance have brought these masterpieces to life, upholding India’s centuries-old literary tradition. I see them as both artists and artisans—custodians of our rich cultural heritage. No award can fully capture the depth of their contributions, but it is a humble gesture of gratitude for their dedication to preserving and enriching our literary legacy.”
Chief Guest, Honourable Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat
Ashok Kumar Bal, CEO & Patron of KLF, delivered an inspiring inaugural speech, reaffirming the festival’s commitment to fostering cross-cultural literary dialogue. He said, “The 2025 award-winning books are more than just literary masterpieces—they are voices that shape intellectual discourse. As KLF moves forward, we envision these works sparking new conversations, broadening worldviews, and leaving an indelible mark on readers worldwide.”
Rashmi Ranjan Parida, KLF Founder & Director, reflected on the growth of the awards, noting, “This award have become a benchmark for literary excellence. They celebrate voices that challenge perspectives, inspire generations, and contribute to the intellectual and cultural fabric of our society.”
Vikram Sampath
It celebrate literary excellence across seven English and five Hindi categories, with each winner receiving ₹1 lakh, a citation, a trophy, and a traditional shawl. Winners – KLF Book Awards 2025.
Award Winners Across Categories
Recognising the richness and diversity of contemporary literature, the KLF Book Awards honour excellence across seven categories in English and five in Hindi. Each recipient is awarded a cash prize of ₹1 lakh, a citation, a distinguished trophy, and a traditional shawl, celebrating their literary achievements.
Winners – KLF Book Awards 2025
English Language Winners:
• Non-Fiction: Tipu Sultan: The Saga of Mysore’s Interregnum (1760-1799) – Dr Vikram Sampath(Penguin) & The Sherpa Trail: Stories from Darjeeling and Beyond – Nandini Purandare & Deepa Balsavar(Roli Books)
• Fiction: The Girl with the Seven Lives – Vikas Swarup(Simon & Schuster) & The Enclave: A Sharp and Hilarious Portrait of Womanhood in India – RohitManchanda (HarperCollins)
• Poetry: I’ll Have It Here – Jeet Thayil (HarperCollins)
• Business: Digital Fortunes: A Value Investor’s Guide to the New Economy – Smarak Swain (Bloomsbury India)
• Translation: Ten Days of the Strike: Selected Stories – Sandipan Chattopadhyay, translated from Bengali by Arunava Sinha (HarperCollins)
• Debut Writing: The Many Lives of Syeda X: The Story of an Unknown Indian – Neha Dixit (Juggernaut)
• Children’s Literature: Laxmi Panda: The Story of Netaji’s Youngest Spy – Savie Karnel (Westland)
Hindi Language Winners:
• Non-Fiction: Over the Top: OTT ka Mayajaal – AnantVijay (Prabhat Prakashan)
• Fiction: Vanya – Manisha Kulsherstha (Rajpal and Sons) & Kissagram – Prabhat Ranjan (Rajpal and Sons)
• Poetry: Dharm Wah Naav Nahin – Shirish Kumar Maurya (Rajkamal Prakashan)
• Translation: Charu, Chivar Aur Charya – Pradeep Das, translated by Sujata Shiven (Penguin)
• Debut Writing: Chakka Jaam – Gautam Choubey(Rajkamal Prakashan)
• Special Citation: Gaanv Se Bees Postcard – Shiv BalakMisra (Westland – Eka)
The KLF Book Awards will recognise 15 outstanding books in English and Hindi, along with four notable works in Sanskrit and Odia. These awards will be presented at the Kalinga Literary Festival in Bhubaneswar from March 21–23, 2025. The awards celebrate India’s linguistic diversity and the important role of literature in shaping society. The positive response this year shows the growing impact of the KLF in promoting literary excellence and cultural exchange.
Vikas Swarup
The event ended with a sincere thank you from Professor Kamala Kanta Dash, who expressed gratitude for the contributions of authors, jurors, publishers, and literary enthusiasts.
Afterward, a gathering at the India International Centre gave attendees a chance to discuss literature. The evening also included the launch of A Various World by Ashok Kumar Bal and an insightful panel discussion with members of the KLF Advisory Board.
