7 Book Covers Make It to the Shortlist of the Oxford Bookstore Book Cover Prize 2024
Kolkata, February 12, 2024: Dr. Alka Pande, Priti Paul, Dr. Kunal Basu and Anja Riedeberger and announced the seven shortlisted titles on the second day of the 15th Apeejay Kolkata Literary Festival (AKLF).
A list of 7 book covers chosen by the distinguished jury comprising author and Member of Parliament, Dr. Shashi Tharoor; author, columnist and novelist, Shobhaa De; author and academic, Dr. Kunal Basu; Museum Curator and Jury Chair, Dr. Alka Pande; Director, Apeejay Surrendra Group and the creative force behind the Oxford Bookstore chain, Priti Paul and Guest Jurors, Director, Institut français in India and Counsellor for Cooperation and Cultural Action, French Embassy in India, Emmanuel Lebrun- Damiens and Director Information Services South Asia Goethe-Institut / Max Mueller Bhavan Anja Riedeberger, were announced at the marque event.
In its first year, Bena Sareen was awarded the prize for the book, “Talking of Justice” by late author, Leila Seth, published by Aleph. The following year designer Pinaki De was declared winner for the book “Kalkatta” authored by Kunal Basu, published by Picador India. The third Oxford Bookstore Book Cover Prize was awarded to Maithili Doshi Aphale for the book “Himalaya” authored by Ruskin Bond and Namita Gokhale, published by Speaking Tiger. In the fourth year the prize was awarded to Bonita Vaz Shimray for the book “Remnants of a Separation” by Aanchal Malhotra published by HarperCollins. The fifth edition prize was handed over to Sneha Pamneja for “Tiffin”, published by Roli Books. Graphic Designer Gunjan Ahlawat was awarded the prestigious award in the sixth edition for the book “Gun Island” by Amitav Ghosh, published by Hamish Hamilton, an imprint of Penguin Random House. Renowned visual artist, designer and researcher, Ishan Khosla was adjudged the winner of the seventh edition of the prestigious prize. Khosla won the award for designing the cover of ‘Kintsugi’ by author Anukrti Upadhyay, published by Fourth Estate. Paramita Brahmachari bagged the eighth Oxford Bookstore Book Cover Prize for designing the cover of the book titled, Pebble Monkey by Manindra Gupta, published by Jadavpur University Press.
SHORTLIST – OXFORD BOOKSTORE BOOK COVER PRIZE 2024
1. NOMINATED BOOK- The Book Beautiful
NAME OF THE AUTHOR- Pradeep Sebastian
NAME OF THE DESIGNER- Bhavi Mehta
NAME OF THE PUBLISHER- Hachette India Adult & Business/ An Imprint of Hachette India
2. NOMINATED BOOK – The Penguin Book of Indian Poets
NAME OF THE AUTHOR- Edited by Jeet Thayil
NAME OF THE DESIGNER- Ahlawat Gunjan
NAME OF THE PUBLISHER- Hamish Hamilton/ An Imprint of Penguin Random House
3. NOMINATED BOOK- Azad Nagar
NAME OF THE AUTHOR- Laura T. Murphy
NAME OF THE DESIGNER- Saurav Das
NAME OF THE PUBLISHER- Solo Nomination/ HarperCollins India
4. NOMINATED BOOK- The Adornment of Gods
NAME OF THE AUTHOR- Devdutt Pattanaik
NAME OF THE DESIGNER- Saurabh Garge
NAME OF THE PUBLISHER- Westland Books
5. NOMINATED BOOK – Not Quite a Disaster after All
NAME OF THE AUTHOR- Buku Sarkar
NAME OF THE DESIGNER- Amit Malhotra
NAME OF THE PUBLISHER- Harper Fiction/ An Imprint of HarperCollins India
6. NOMINATED BOOK- When Indian Flowers Bloomed in Europe
NAME OF THE AUTHOR- Ebeltje Hartkamp- Jonxis
NAME OF THE DESIGNER- Sashi Bhushan Prasad
NAME OF THE PUBLISHER- TAPI Collection/ An Imprint of Niyogi Books
7. NOMINATED BOOK- Mystics and Sceptics
NAME OF THE AUTHOR- Namita Gokhale
NAME OF THE DESIGNER- Bonita Vaz Shimray
NAME OF THE PUBLISHER- Harper Non Fiction/ An Imprint of HarperCollins India