The announcement, which follows the release of the longlist last month, marks a major moment in the country’s literary calendar. The winners will be revealed on December 3 during a grand ceremony in Mumbai.
Crossword Books Awards 2025 Short List
The Indian literary community is abuzz with excitement as Crossword Bookstores has announced the Jury Shortlist for the Crossword Book Awards 2025, spotlighting some of the year’s most remarkable works of Indian writing in English.
The announcement, which follows the release of the longlist last month, marks a major moment in the country’s literary calendar. The winners will be revealed on December 3 during a grand ceremony in Mumbai.
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Instituted in 1998, the Crossword Book Awards are among India’s most respected literary honors, celebrating excellence in storytelling and innovation in writing. The 2025 shortlist includes five titles each in Fiction, Non-fiction, Translations, Children’s Books, and Business & Management, reflecting the diversity and creative strength of contemporary Indian literature.
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Speaking on the occasion, Aakash Gupta, CEO of Crossword Bookstores, said, “The Jury Shortlist represents books that stood out for their originality, craft, and impact. Each title has been carefully chosen for its contribution to modern writing and its ability to move, challenge, or inspire readers. These are the stories that showcase the best of Indian literature today.”
In the Fiction category, the shortlisted novels are ‘Girls Who Stray’ by Anisha Lalvani, ‘Rising Sons’ by Kavery Nambisan, ‘An Unholy Drought’ by Madhulika Liddle, ‘Great Eastern Hotel’ by Ruchir Joshi, and ‘The Fertile Earth’ by Ruthvika Rao. These works traverse themes of identity, relationships, and socio-political change, offering readers a vivid panorama of contemporary life.
The Non-fiction list features ‘Golwalkar’ by Dhirendra K. Jha, ‘Gods, Guns and Missionaries’ by Manu S. Pillai, ‘The Lucky Ones’ by Zara Chowdhary, Iconoclast by Anand Teltumbde, and ‘Lōal Kashmir’ by Mehak Jamal. Each of these books delves into complex ideas of ideology, history, and society, presenting nuanced insights into India’s past and present.
The Translations category highlights the growing importance of regional voices in national literature. The five shortlisted titles — ‘The Day the Earth Bloomed’ (Malayalam), ‘Mudritha’ (Malayalam), ‘Our City That Year’ (Hindi), ‘The Owl, the River and the Valley’ (Assamese), and ‘Unlove Story’ (Bengali) — showcase the linguistic richness and cultural variety that continue to shape India’s literary heritage.
Among Children’s Books, the shortlist features ‘The Wall Friends Club’ by Varsha Seshan, ‘Ajay of Agumbe’ and the ‘Signal Snake’ by Zai Whitaker, ‘Kushti Kid’ by Vibha Batra, ‘The Body in the Swimming Pool’ by Shabnam Minwalla, and ‘The Book of Emperors’ by Ashwitha Jayakumar.
These stories combine adventure, imagination, and learning, offering young readers a mix of fun and inspiration.
In the Business & Management category, titles such as ‘Ratan Tata’ by Thomas Mathew, ‘Just a Mercenary?’ by Duvvuri Subbarao, ‘Behold the Leviathan’ by Saurabh Mukherjea and Nandita Rajhansa, ‘The Dirty Dozen’ by N. Sundaresha Subramanian, and ‘Sky High’ by Tarun Shukla explore leadership, innovation, and the changing face of India’s corporate world.
The 2025 edition reinforces the Crossword Book Awards as a benchmark of literary excellence and a celebration of India’s most compelling storytellers.
By recognizing both renowned authors and emerging voices, the awards continue to capture the dynamism of Indian literature — inspiring readers and writers alike across generations.
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