/local-samosal/media/agency_attachments/sdHo8lJbdoq1EhywCxNZ.png)
/local-samosal/media/media_files/2025/10/06/brand-to-watch-out-for-2026-2025-10-06-19-16-22.jpg)
Follow Us/local-samosal/media/media_files/2025/12/04/pr-3-2025-12-04-11-59-23.png)
The 19th edition of the Crossword Book Awards was held at the LaLit Mumbai on December 3. Shanta Gokhale was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award. Presenting the Award to her was Bachi Karkaria, the celebrated journalist and a close friend of Gokhale. This tribute makes her the fifth recipient of the Crossword Lifetime Achievement Award, joining an illustrious list that includes Ruskin Bond, Sudha Murty, Shashi Tharoor and Amitav Ghosh.
Showcasing the diversity and ambition of Indian storytelling today, the Jury Awards winning titles range from a 920-page recreation of 1940s Calcutta to a powerful examination of the evolution of modern Hindu identity - Great Eastern Hotel by Ruchir Joshi (fiction), Gods, Guns and Missionaries by Manu S. Pillai (Non-fiction), Just a Mercenary? by Duvvuri Subbarao (Business and Management), The Wall Friends Club by Varsha Seshan, illustrated by Denise Antao (Children’s Books), and The Day the Earth Bloomed by Manoj Kuroor translated by J. Devika (Translations). A total of 15 jurors—three representatives for each category—served on this year’s Jury
panel. The Popular Choice Awards, determined entirely by readers’ votes.
Aakash Gupta, CEO of Crossword Book Stores, commented on the event’s success, "We are thrilled by the range and depth of talent recognised this year. The awards stand as a definitive benchmark for literary discovery, celebrating voices that are original, impactful and essential reading. We believe these titles will spark conversations, shape perspectives and inspire an entire generation of readers".
Making the moment more special, Nidhi Gupta, Director of Crossword Bookstores shared, "Tonight was a mesmerising reminder of the enduring power of storytelling. These books open windows into worlds we might never otherwise encounter. We are honoured to offer a platform where such profound and transformative literary contributions can berecognised, celebrated and shared with readers everywhere".