Antara Dev Sen to chair DSC Prize for South Asian Literature

Noted writer, editor and literary critic Antara Dev Sen is set to chair the jury for the 2014 DSC Prize for South Asian Literature.

Along with her the panel comprises Arshia Sattar, Indian translator, writer and teacher; Ameena Saiyid, Managing Director of Oxford University Press in Pakistan; Rosie Boycott, acclaimed British journalist and editor; and Paul Yamazaki, a veteran bookseller from the US.

"The panel brings with it varied experience and also represents the interests and creative principles of writing pertaining to the South Asian region — an objective that the DSC Prize is dedicated to,” according to a statement by the organisers.

“I am honoured to be part of this endeavour to reward fiction focused on South Asia with its rich cultural diversity, its various languages and beliefs, many hopes and fears, and distinctive beauty,” said Antara Dev Sen.

The $50,000 DSC Prize recognises works of fiction from across the globe that highlights South Asia, its people, culture and diaspora

The jury panel is currently in the process of assessing the 65 entries received from publishers all across the world.

The fourth edition of the prize has seen a 45 per cent growth in the number of entries received as compared to the inaugural DSC Prize 2011, with about a quarter of the entries coming in from the UK, the US, Canada and Australia to supplement the entries from the South Asian countries, say DSC authorities.

Over a period of three-and-a-half months, the jury would evaluate the entries and release a longlist here in October 2013, followed by a shortlist (five to six titles) announcement in London in November 2013.

The winner of the $50,000 DSC Prize for South Asian Literature 2014 would be announced at the DSC Jaipur Literature Festival in Jaipur by the end of January 2014.

“Happily, in this exciting hunt, the DSC Prize is not restrained by language or nationality. The books under consideration include translations from a variety of languages that make the literatures of South Asia so vibrant. They also include books by non-Asian authors,” Sen said.

Manhad Narula of DSC Ltd, said, “We are delighted to have such a highly acclaimed international jury panel for the DSC Prize 2014.”

The DSC Prize for South Asian Literature has previously been won in 2011 by H. M. Naqvi for Home Boy , by Shehan Karunatilaka in 2012 for Chinaman: The Legend of Pradeep Mathew and in 2013 by Jeet Thayil for Narcopolis .

Each of these winners has gone on to be published internationally.

COMMENT NOW