A Prominent Malayalam daily, Mathrubhumi, has instituted a Rs 5 lakh ''Book Of The Year'' award. The first award will be presented at the Mathrubhumi International Festival of Letters (MBIFL) in Thiruvanathapuram from January 30-February 2, 2020, said the newspaper's Joint MD Shreyams Kumar.
"The House of Mathrubhumi has been the mother lode that has enriched Malayalam literature since our inception in 1923. For close to a century, the best of writing in the world and in Indian languages has been mined by us for the enrichment of Keralites. Thus was envisaged the Mathrubhumi International Festival of Letters. It hosts the brightest and the best from across the world, debating, discussing and dissenting on concepts, ideas and thoughts," Shreyams Kumar explained.
"The Mathrubhumi Book of the Year award is a commitment from Mathrubhumi to honour the best in Indian literature every year. We are inspired to honour and celebrate brilliant works, and encourage the publishers to look for the best writing by Indian authors," Shreyams Kumar said.
The award is open to Indian writers whose works are published in India. Works in regional languages should be translated to English to be eligible for the award. Kerala's prominent newspaper Mathrubhumi was launched in 1923, supporting the freedom movement in the country. This award is considered as biggest in the publication sector in India.