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Bob Dylan’s songs, which mostly touched upon social and political conditions among others, have been influential for the past five decades and will continue to inspire generations to come.

Dylan, who has been awarded the Nobel Prize in literature “for having created new poetic expressions”, is the first musician to win the award, and joins the likes of T.S. Eliot, Ernest Hemingway and Gabriel García Márquez,and more. His win, however, has started a debate if lyrics have the same artistic values as poems and novels do.

Prasoon Joshi, Lyricist

Poet and lyricist Dylan truly democratised literature. He liberated words from the stranglehold of the classists and freed them from their destiny. Sometimes the boundaries of art and literature get too narrowly defined by a few. Dylan being awarded the Nobel Prize is a signal that the archaic lens through which art is very oft seen has been wiped clean and a fresher perspective is in play.

Hopefully, this will expand horizons and we, as a society, will be able to free artists from compartments and see the contribution of good lyricists as an igniter of thoughts.

Nitin Malik, Vocalist

Anyone who has read the poetry in his songs already worships him for the true poet that he is, and always will be. Dylan has always sung about love, equality and highlighted social problems through his lyrics. His songs emphasised on the pressing issues of his times. He even had concerts against the Vietnam War right when it was happening. He is truly a messenger of love and peace and deserves this kind of acknowledgment on a global level.

Nilesh Mondal, Poet and author

I’ve been in a conflicted state of mind since I’ve heard the news. His words are indeed revolutionary, and have been exemplary in giving people courage and the willingness to raise their voices against the existing status quo time and again. At the same time, whether or not that is an adequate enough reason for someone to win the Nobel Prize for Literature, is debatable. As someone said, a musician’s work is dependent on his music, as much as it is on the lyrics. If it is read instead of sung, it would probably lose a part of its true essence. This isn’t true for an author. However, considering that this year’s awards have also shown that literature can break through the boundaries of traditional written words and gone to celebrate oral literature, it opens up exciting possibilities for the future.

Kamakshi Khanna, Singer

Listening to Dylan’s body of work is a course and a learning experience in itself. He understands the internal process so well, and is so self-aware. He also says that song writing is his preceptor and guide into some altered consciousness of reality, some different republic, some liberated republic. This according to me, makes him the most apt choice for this prize.

Irshad Kamil, Lyricist

Bob Dylan is a singer and a songwriter. How many people in India do you find who write their own songs and sing them? Indie music is still growing in the country. We make a lot of songs for movies, which are very situational. But I think this award will push lyricists to be more open about their thoughts, while they write their lyrics. Stories, poems, songs are all a way of entertainment. So one shouldn’t be surprised if a songwriter gets the Nobel Prize for Literature. This is a welcome change, but at this level, it is too soon to judge if it will open up new avenues for the lyricists.

Siddhartha Gigoo, Author

No one expected a songwriter to take home the award, but the Nobel committee is changing the rules of the game. It’s great, because lyrics are very much a part of literature. He is one of the most globally recognised and influential voices who has given shape to an entire generation of English speakers. Alice Munroe was the first short story writer to win the prize and that garnered lots of attention and debate too. The committee was lauded for recognising short stories as a part of literature. I think it’s brilliant that they are broadening their vision of literary works.

(With inputs by Kaavya Pillai and Aditi Pancholi)