Banaras Lit Fest Unveils Winners for 2026 Book Awards
The Banaras Literature Festival has officially announced the distinguished winners of its 2026 Book Awards, celebrating literary excellence across a diverse spectrum of Indian languages. This prestigious event, now in its second edition, recognizes authors and translators who have made significant contributions to the rich tapestry of Indian literature.
Lifetime Achievement and Special Honors
Renowned writer Namita Gokhale, co-founder of the Jaipur Literature Festival and author of the cult classic Paro: Dreams of Passion, was honored with the Bhartendu Harishchandra Lifetime Achievement Award. This accolade acknowledges her enduring impact on Indian literature and her pivotal role in building literary institutions.
In the category of Indian languages, Mahadev Toppo received the esteemed Kalidas Award, while Parag Pawan was named the recipient of the Vivekanand Award for Youth, highlighting emerging talent in the literary field.
English Language Award Winners
The English language categories saw a host of talented authors being recognized:
- Shinie Antony won the Ruskin Bond Award for Fiction for her novel Eden Abandoned: The Story of Lilith.
- Poet Abhay K was honored with the Sarojini Naidu Award for Poetry for his work The Hanuman Chalisa.
- Linguist and writer Peggy Mohan received the Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan Award for Non-Fiction for her book Father Tongue, Motherland: The Birth of Language in South Asia.
- The Rabindranath Tagore Award for Translation was awarded to Arunava Sinha for his English translation of Sankar's Bengali work Limited / Unlimited.
Hindi Literary Awards
Hindi literature was also prominently featured, with several authors receiving accolades:
- Mamta Kalia was conferred the Premchand Award for Fiction for her book Doorasth Dampatya.
- Poet Udayan Vajpeyi received the Kabir Award for Poetry for Pagal Ganitagya Ki Kavitayein.
- J Sushil won the Rahul Sankrityayan Award for Non-Fiction for Dukh Ki Duniya Bheetar Hai.
- The Mahadevi Verma Award for Translation was awarded to Rajgopal Singh Verma for his translation of Thomas Henry Kavanagh's work 1857 Ki Kranti Ka Awadh.
Award Ceremony Details
The awards will be formally presented during the Banaras Lit Fest, which is scheduled to take place from January 30 to February 1, 2026, in the historic city of Banaras. This event promises to be a grand celebration of literary achievements, bringing together authors, poets, and literary enthusiasts from across the nation.
The Banaras Lit Fest Book Awards 2026 underscore the festival's commitment to promoting literary diversity and honoring the voices that shape India's literary landscape. By recognizing works in multiple languages, the awards foster a deeper appreciation for the country's rich cultural heritage and contemporary literary innovations.
