Five notable non-fiction works selected for prestigious literary prize to be announced in December.
The New India Foundation has revealed the five-book shortlist for the 2025 Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay NIF Book Prize, which recognizes outstanding non-fiction writing focused on modern and contemporary India. This esteemed award aims to celebrate works that provide valuable insights into the nation’s evolving narrative.
The winner of the prize will be announced on December 6 during the Bangalore Literature Festival, where they will receive a cash award of Rs 15 lakhs. This year’s shortlist has been curated by a distinguished jury, which includes notable figures such as N Chandrasekaran, the chairman of Tata Sons and Tata Group; entrepreneur Manish Sabharwal; political scientist Niraja Gopal Jayal; historian Srinath Raghavan; Rahul Matthan, a partner at Trilegal; former Ambassador of India to France Jawed Ashraf; and public policy scholar Yamini Aiyar.
In reflecting on the shortlist, Matthan emphasized its representation of the diverse and dynamic nature of contemporary non-fiction in India. He noted that the selected works span various themes, from biographies of influential individuals to explorations of identity and belief, as well as analyses of democracy and statecraft. These narratives not only provide fresh perspectives on the complexities that shape modern India but also highlight the importance of acknowledging both well-known and overlooked aspects of the nation’s history.
The shortlisted titles include “Savarkar and the Making of Hindutva” by Janaki Bakhle, published by Princeton University Press; “India’s Forgotten Country: A View From the Margins” by Bela Bhatia from Penguin Random House India; “India’s Near East: A New History” by Avinash Paliwal, also from Penguin Random House India; “Gods, Guns, and Missionaries: The Making Of The Modern Hindu Identity” by Manu S Pillai, again published by Penguin Random House India; and “Engineering a Nation: The Life and Career of M Visvesvaraya” by Aparajith Ramnath, also from Penguin Random House India.
In recent years, the Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay NIF Book Prize has recognized several significant works. Among the previous winners are Ashok Gopal for “A Part Apart: The Life and Thought of BR Ambedkar” in 2025, Akshaya Mukul for “Writer, Rebel, Soldier, Lover: The Many Lives of Agyeya” in 2024, and Shekhar Pathak for “The Chipko Movement: A People’s History” in 2023, translated by Manisha Chaudhry from Hindi, published by Permanent Black. This pattern of honoring impactful literature underscores the prize’s commitment to fostering an understanding of India through the lens of thoughtful and well-researched non-fiction.
