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In this blogpost, we share the JCB Prize shutdown and what it means for Indian Literary Awards.

The recent announcement that the JCB Prize for Literature is being discontinued has come as a shock to many in India’s literary community.

Since its inception in 2018, the award funded by the UK-based construction giant JCB, has spotlighted and rewarded some of the most powerful voices in Indian literature, particularly in translation. Its absence leaves a noticeable vacuum in an already sparse landscape of credible literary awards in India.

But perhaps this moment of loss is also a moment of reckoning.

Why Do We Need more Indian Literary Awards

Indian Literary awards are more than shiny trophies and hefty cheques. They validate effort, elevate hidden voices, and most importantly, create a culture of reading and discourse.

For a country as linguistically and culturally diverse as India, literary recognition is vital, not just for the urban elite writing in English but for authors writing in Odia, Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada, Assamese, and other regional languages.

Unfortunately, India’s ecosystem of literary awards has often been limited, politicised, or too focused on established names. The JCB Prize offered a fresh, structured, and credible alternative, open to debut authors, inclusive of translations, and focused on literary merit. Its exit should prompt serious questions: Why don’t we have more such platforms? Why aren’t we supporting literature the same way we do film or music?

The JCB Prize Shutdown- The Controversy: Literature, Ethics, and Sponsorship

In November 2023, the JCB Prize for Literature became the subject of heated debate. Over a hundred writers, poets, and publishers, among them K Satchidanandan, Meena Kandasamy, and Jacinta Kerketta, signed an open letter condemning JCB, the British bulldozer manufacturer that sponsors the award.

The letter, as reported by The Week, accused the company of “uprooting” the lives of the poor and marginalized in India and Palestine through the use of its machinery in controversial demolitions.

While the award organisers did not respond publicly, the incident opened up a larger conversation around corporate accountability in the arts.

Can or should a literary award be divorced from the actions of its sponsor? Is it fair to ask a company to answer for how its machines are used by state authorities?

There are no easy answers, but the situation underscores the fragile relationship between literature, ethics, and funding.

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The Bigger Question: Where Are the Awards for Self-Published Authors?

Another glaring gap in India’s literary recognition ecosystem is the lack of awards for self-published authors. While traditional publishing continues to receive validation and visibility through awards and festivals, indie authors, many of whom sell thousands of copies on Amazon or build loyal followings are largely ignored.

This is in contrast to international platforms where self-published authors regularly make it to best-of lists, win reader’s choice awards, or are considered for hybrid categories. In India, the literary gatekeeping still leans heavily towards prestige publishers.

It’s time to change that.

Recommended Reads: Literary Awards in India

What Can We Do Now?

• Create Independent Awards: NGOs, educational institutions, or literary collectives could start smaller, focused awards for regional writing, indie publishing, or genre fiction.
• Support Translation Efforts: India needs more structured grants, residencies, and prizes for translators, especially those working from underrepresented languages.
• Celebrate Reader’s Choice: Introduce popular vote awards that reflect real-time reader impact, not just critical acclaim.
• Digital-First Recognition: Acknowledge the rise of eBooks, web fiction, and audiobooks with dedicated categories.

Recommended Reads: Litfests and the Art of Getting Invited

A Call to Literary Institutions

The exit of the JCB Prize should not mark the end of literary recognition but the beginning of rethinking how we award, whom we celebrate, and what kind of stories we want to elevate. Indian literature is not just surviving. It is thriving across formats, languages, and platforms. What it needs is support, structure, and sincerity.

The next great literary award in India shouldn’t come from an MNC’s CSR budget. It should come from within the Indian literary community itself including writers, publishers, bookstores, and readers. Because books matter. Stories shape nations. And authors deserve more than applause they deserve a platform.

If you’re an author, publisher, or literary enthusiast with a vision for supporting Indian literature, now’s the time to act. Let’s build the future of Indian literary recognition together. Connect with us today!