The seventh edition of the Bhopal Literature & Art Festival will be a vibrant physical event at Bharat Bhavan, Bhopal from 31 Jan 2025 to 02 Feb 2025
Raghav Chandra, Director of the Bhopal Literature and Art Festival, is pleased to announce the winner of the Sushila Devi Award for the Best Book of Fiction written by a Woman Author for the year 2024. This prestigious prize carries a cash award of 2 lakhs INR and has been instituted by the Shri Ratanlal Foundation and is presented during the Bhopal Literature and Art Festival, in January in Bhopal.
The jury for the Sushila Devi Award 2024, chaired by Dr. Malashri Lal and comprising Prof. GJV Prasad and Sukrita Paul Kumar, have selected Taxi by Manjula Padmanabhan as the winner. The decision recognizes Manjula Padmanabhan's compelling narrative and exploration of contemporary social issues.
Now in its seventh year, the Sushila Devi Award has gained significant prestige in the literary world. Previous winners include Namita Gokhale (Things to Leave Behind), Shubhangi Swarup (Latitudes of Longing), Avni Doshi (Girl in White Cotton), Anukrti Upadhyay (Kintsugi), Anuradha Roy (The Earthspinner), and Janice Pariat (Everything the Light Touches).
Padmanabhan's novel Taxi tells the story of Maddy Sen, a US-educated, independent-minded woman taxi driver breaking societal stereotypes. The plot takes a surprising turn when Maddy is asked to dress as a male chauffeur for a wealthy client. Through this intriguing premise, Padmanabhan delves into issues of cross-dressing, gendered public spaces, and societal assumptions about women. Maddy's sharp interior monologues, witty humor, and gripping narrative shed light on the city's brutality and tenderness, indifference and care, making Taxi a profound and engaging read.
The jury remarked, "Manjula Padmanabhan’s Taxi eloquently addresses contemporary social challenges while keeping readers captivated through its brisk pace and nuanced storytelling. It is a testament to the power of fiction to question and illuminate societal norms."
"We are thrilled to honor Manjula Padmanabhan for her outstanding contribution to literature," said Mr. Raghav Chandra, Director of the Bhopal Literature and Art Festival. "Her novel showcases the ability of storytelling to address significant societal themes while engaging readers with wit and depth."
The award will be presented to Manjula Padmanabhan during the Bhopal Literature and Art Festival on 31st January - 2nd February 2025, where she will also participate as a speaker in a session around her writing.
Raghav Chandra, IAS (Retd.)
Director of the Bhopal Literature and Art Festival