Perumal Murugan’s ‘Fire Bird’ Clinches 2023 JCB Prize for Literature

November 20, 2023

Tamil writer Perumal Murugan’s novel ‘Fire Bird,’ skillfully translated into English by Janani Kannan, emerged victorious at the 2023 JCB Prize for Literature. The prestigious award was announced in New Delhi, with the book published by Penguin Random House India.

Universality in Specificity: Jury’s Praise

Chair of the five-member jury, author Srinath Perur, lauded ‘Fire Bird,’ stating that Murugan encapsulates a universal story tied to the land with astonishing particularity. Janani Kannan’s translation was commended for preserving not only the Tamil language’s rhythms but also an entire way of being in the world.

Absorption into a Different World

Jury member Swati Thiyagarajan, a journalist and filmmaker, described the novel as “a powerful evocative story of an ordinary life.” She highlighted its capacity to immerse English readers in a world, time, and place, enriching their understanding of rural Tamil Nadu.

Virtual Announcement and Physical Presentation

Lord Bamford, Chairman of JCB Group, virtually announced the award, which was presented in person by Deepak Shetty, CEO and Managing Director of JCB India Limited. The JCB Literary Prize includes a cash prize of Rs 25 lakh for the author and an additional Rs 10 lakh for the translator.

Celebrating Perumal Murugan’s Literary Contributions

Perumal Murugan, with 12 novels, six collections of short stories, six anthologies of poetry, and numerous non-fiction books to his name, has made a significant mark in the literary world. Ten of his novels, including ‘Seasons of the Palm,’ ‘Current Show,’ and ‘One Part Woman,’ have been translated into English.

Distinguished Shortlisted Works

Other notable works on the shortlist included ‘The Secret of More’ by Tejaswini Apte-Rahm, ‘The Nemesis’ by Manoranjan Byapari, ‘Mansur’ by Vikramajit Ram, and ‘I Named my Sister Silence’ by Manoj Rupda.

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