Acclaimed Meghalaya author Janice Pariat has clinched the Best Fiction award at the inaugural Pen n Paper Book Awards for her novel Everything The Light Touches. The HarperCollins India publication stood out among a competitive field in the newly launched literary awards program, which celebrated excellence across ten categories.Veteran poet Gulzar took top honors in the poetry category for his collection Baal-o-Par: Collected Poems, while historian Vikram Sampath won Best Non-Fiction for Waiting for Shiva, a deep dive into Kashi’s Gyan Vapi.
Launched to recognize both seasoned and emerging voices in Indian literature, the awards offer a significant platform for authors and publishers. “This is a fantastic opportunity to highlight diverse talent across genres,” said Arup Bose, one of the program’s key organizers. Other notable winners included The Golden Tiger Mountain by Ravi Kapoor in children’s literature and Sheela Tomy’s Valli: A Novel, which won the translation category. In self-help, Dr Mickey Mehta’s Weightless – Unburden took the prize.
The awards judged hundreds of entries, seeking stories that inspire and promote optimism. “We wanted to recognize literature that builds a better future,” said Harshil Shah, a spokesperson for Books Barista. In the Hindi categories, Dr Nidhi Agarwal’s Gillu Ki Nayi Kahani won Best Fiction, while Dr Laxman Yadav’s Professor Ki Diary secured Best Non-Fiction.
