International Booker Winner “Tomb of Sand” Makes History for PRH India
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Author Geetanjali Shree (l.), and translator Daisy Rockwell (r.)
Thrilling, literary-history-making news from Penguin Random House India: They are celebrating their author, Geetanjali Shree, winning the 2022 International Booker Prize for her novel “Tomb of Sand,” translated from the Hindi by Daisy Rockwell. This is the first a Hindi translation has been honored with the International Booker, bestowed annually for the best in translated fiction. It also is the first time an Indian novelist, writing in any language, has won this Prize.
The 700-plus page novel, per Publishers Weekly, “follows the adventures of an 80-year-old woman, who, following the death of her husband, travels from northern India to Pakistan to confront childhood trauma.”
In her acceptance speech, Ms. Shree said, “This is not just about me, the individual. I represent a language and culture and this recognition brings into larger purview the entire world of Hindi literature in particular and Indian literature as a whole.”
Gaurav Shrinagesh, CEO, Penguin Random House India, commented, “As the publisher of ‘Tomb of Sand’ in India, this is a significant testimony for translated literature and for Hindi language literature. We are proud and humbled to be associated with the first novel translated from Hindi to be recognized by the International Booker Prize. We are confident that readership for translated stories from India will definitely get an impetus with this win.”
Embracing congratulations to our author and to her translator, and to our Penguin Random House India colleagues, for this landmark achievement.