Thiruvananthapuram: Writer K.R. Meera has been included in the jury of the JCB prize for literature, the richest literary prize instituted by the multinational JCB Group in 2018, carrying a cash award of Rs 25 lakh. The inaugural prize was won by Malayalam writer Benyamin for his book 'Jasmine Days.'
The jury consists of Meera, Anjum Hasan, author and critic; Parvati Sharma, author; and Arvind Subramanian, economist and former chief economic adviser to the Union Government. Pradip Krishen, filmmaker and environmentalist, is the chairperson.
Meera told DC that she felt honoured to be part of the jury as Malayalam language was being recognized. Though the award is for writing in English language, the translation of Indian language books into English will also be considered. Benyamin's book, which explores the lives of South Asians in West Asia, was originally written in Malayalam and translated into Englsih by Shahnaz Habib.
Entries for the award will close on April 30. The longlist of ten titles will be announced on September 4 and the shortlist of five titles on October 4. The winner will be announced on November 2. If the winning work is a translation, the translator will get an additional Rs 10 lakh. Each of the five shortlisted authors will receive Rs 1 lakh and if it is a translation, the translator will receive Rs 50,000.
The JCB prize was set up to recognize literary achievements in the country and create greater visibility for contemporary Indian writing. It aimed at introducing new audiences to Indian literary works in languages other than their own.
