The Raymond Crossword Book Award 2018, in its 15th edition happened at the majestic Royal Opera House, Mumbai. The exceptional and best selling literary works of the year 2017 were celebrated and winners across various categories were announced. To read about what happened at the awards last year you can visit Did your favorite author win at the 14th Raymond Crossword Book Award? Results Announced!.
In this spectacular literary event, Sudha Murthy who has written numerous books across various genres in English and Kannada was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award for her exemplary contribution to Indian Writing. Sudha Murthy was conferred a Padma Shri, one of the Indian civilian awards, in the year 2006. Accepting the Lifetime Achievement Award, veteran author Sudha Murthy said, “I was surprised when I came to know that I'm getting this award. I thought this is their way of telling me to retire," she said in jest. Handing over the award to Sudha Murty was world’s leading cardiac surgeon Dr. Ramakanta Panda, Mrs. S Raheja, and Dr. Amit Karkhanis.
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| Sudha Murthy Receiving the Lifetime Achievement Awards at the Raymond Crossword Book Award 2018 |
Sadhguru who has written books like Adiyogi, Mind Is Your Business, etc. won two popular awards. Sadhguru won the popular award in the non-fiction category for Inner Engineering - a Yogi’s guide to joy. Sadhguru said, "This award is for the millions of people, who are brave enough; instead of looking up in hope, they are willing to look inwards and find their own solutions. For their courage, they need an award. This award is for those who are willing to turn inwards. Looking up has caused one kind of distress; and looking out has caused a different level of destruction. Looking inward is the only solution." To know about all the books written by him, keep scrolling.
Authors like Josy Joseph, Radhakrishnan Pillai, Anita Nair, Harshad Marathe, Ravi Subramanian, Ambi Parmeshwaran, Roopa Pai, Shobhaa De, Bhawana Somaaya were also present at the event while Karan Johar and actor Pooja Chopra represented Bollywood. Presiding over the function, Dr Ramakanta Panda said, "The pen holds the power of discovery and creation within itself. This evening is an ode to this power and I am glad to be here today."
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| Karan Johar receiving the award for his book An Unsuitable Boy at Raymond Crossword Book Award 2018 |
Karan Johar too was delighted to receive an award for his first book, "I was initially quite skeptical, whether I want to share such a large part of my life, through this book. I call it a memoir, and not a biography. I am too young at 45 to have a biography written. The idea was not just to have a puff piece, but an honest account of my growing years and the experiences that I've had. Writing this with Poonam Saxena has been therapeutic for me, and I am grateful to her. It was a cathartic experience. It is okay to be unsuitable, and that's what the book is all about."
Raymond Crossword Book Award is the only Literary Award in India for Indian Authors spread across Lifetime Achievement, Fiction, Non-Fiction, Children’s, Translation and Popular Categories. Speaking on the occasion, Maulik Desai, Head Crossword Bookstores said, “For the last 15 years, the Raymond Crossword Book Award has discovered new and exceptional authors and shared a wealth of literary talents to a wider audience.”
Following were the awardees in each category across the popular choice and jury choice awards.
- WINNERS: POPULAR AWARD
- Fiction: Our Impossible Love by Durjoy Datta
- Non-fiction: Inner Engineering- A Yogi’s Guide To Joy by Sadhguru
- Biography: An Unsuitable Boy by Karan Johar and Poonam Saxena
- Business and management: The Target by Shantanu Guha Ray
- Health and fitness: A Taste of Well-Being by Sadhguru
- Children: The Stormbringer by Archita Mishra
- WINNERS: JURY
- Fiction: Harilal And Sons by Sujit Saraf
- Non-fiction: A Feast Of Vultures by Josy Joseph
- Children: Muezza and Baby Jaan by Anita Nair and Harshad Marathe
- Translation: A preface to Man, authored by Subash Chandran and translated by Fathima. EV, Malayalam
Below is the quick list of books written by popular winners.
- List of all the books written by Sudha Murthy
- List of all the books written by Sadhguru
- List of all the books written by Durjoy Dutta
- List of all the books written by Shantanu Guha Ray
Also present at the awards were prominent guests such as Shaina NC, Kinjal Shah, Rashmi Uday Singh, Anupama Chopra and Swati Popat Vats.
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| Sudha Murthy with budding teenage authors |
Another facet to the event was an interesting panel discussion on “I want to be an Author” with budding teen authors, and publisher Anup Jerajani, moderated by renowned Ms.Anupama Chopra - National award winning film critic and editor of the digital platform Film Companion.
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