Overview
Perumal Murugan‘s novel ‘Fire Bird,‘ translated into English by Janani Kannan, emerged victorious at the 2023 JCB Prize for Literature, announced in New Delhi last Saturday. Publisher and author Manasi Subramaniam received the accolade for the absent Murugan and Kannan, who were absent at the award ceremony. Still, their acceptance speeches were shared in video clips, allowing their voices to be heard despite their absence.
The book, published by Penguin Random House India, secured its place as a celebrated work in the literary realm. Murugan is set to be awarded Rs 25 lakh, with Kannan receiving a cash prize of Rs 10 lakh.
The virtual announcement of the award came from Lord Bamford, Chairman of JCB Group. On the other hand, the in-person presentation was handled by Deepak Shetty, CEO and Managing Director of JCB India Limited.
The JCB Prize for Literature shortlist included four noteworthy books, including two translations.
“The Nemesis” by Manoranjan Byapari, translated from Bengali by V Ramaswamy; “I Named My Sister Silence” by Manoj Rupda, translated from Hindi by Hansda Sowvendra Shekhar; “Mansur” by Vikramajit Ram; and “The Secret of More” by Tejaswini Apte-Rahm were the other contenders competing for the prestigious prize.
The jury, chaired by author and translator Srinath Perur, featured a diverse panel, including playwright and stage director Mahesh Dattani, author, critic, and learning designer Somak Ghoshal, author and surgeon Kavery Nambisan, and journalist and filmmaker Swati Thiyagarajan.
The novel, translated from Aalandapatchi, which refers to a mystical bird in Tamil, skillfully captures the essence of its title, the firebird. This mythical creature serves as a fitting symbol for the elusive and migratory spirit of the pursuit it represents. “Fire Bird” is a thought-provoking and beautifully written exploration of the human longing for stability.
Journalist and filmmaker Swati Thiyagarajan, a jury member, described the novel as “a powerful evocative story of an ordinary life.” She expressed that for readers in English who are not from rural Tamil Nadu, the book offers an immersion into a world, a time, and a place that would enrich their understanding of a part of the country. Thiyagarajan noted that this experience would linger with readers long after they turned the last page.
Who is Perumal Murugan?
With a prolific literary career, Perumal Murugan has authored eleven novels and five collections of short stories and poetry. Born in rural Tamil Nadu, he not only hails from this region but also chooses to live and work there. Murugan’s literary prowess has earned him recognition, being longlisted twice for the National Book Award for Translated Literature. His works, “One Part Woman” and “The Story of a Goat,” both published by Pushkin Press, brought him acclaim in the literary world. Additionally, Murugan holds the position of Vice President at PEN International.
Adding another feather to his literary cap, Perumal Murugan’s novel “Pyre” found itself on the longlist for the International Booker Prize in 2023, with the announcement made on March 14th of the same year.
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