In a ceremony filled with warmth, pride and literary celebration, Lakshmi Puri was honoured with the Pandit Hari Dutt Sharma Award, recognising her impactful entry into the world of fiction with her debut novel Swallowing the Sun. The award is named after Pandit Hari Dutt Sharma, a respected scholar, poet and cultural visionary whose life was dedicated to the promotion of Indian literature, thought and tradition. It continues to honour individuals whose contributions enrich society through words and ideas.
Lakshmi Puri is no stranger to distinction. A seasoned diplomat, she served for nearly 28 years in the Indian Foreign Service before moving to the United Nations, where she rose to become Assistant Secretary-General and played a leading role in establishing UN Women. She has long been a global voice for gender equality and human rights. She is the wife of Hardeep Singh Puri, Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas and a diplomat himself.
Now, she adds a new title to her name, author. Her debut novel, Swallowing the Sun, published in 2024, is an evocative tale set during one of the most stirring chapters in India’s modern history. The books captures the soul of a generation that dared to dream big, for personal freedom, equality and dignity. It draws the reader into the soul of a young woman whose journey mirrors the heartbeat of a nation on the brink of transformation.
Lakshmi Puri presents a protagonist who lives through a time of upheaval, but the real revolution unfolds within her a subtle, yet powerful evolution of voice, agency and identity. Malati’s life is introduced in a small village in Maharashtra, but her spirit refuses to remain confined to its boundaries. From standing up to a school bully to walking into a college classroom where women are barely seen, she begins to challenge her world long before she understands the scale of her rebellion. Her father’s support allows her to push through limits, but it is her own drive and sense of justice that keeps her moving.
What makes this narrative compelling is its honesty. Malati is never portrayed as perfect or extraordinary. Her thoughts are flawed, her actions impulsive at times, but her courage lies in her willingness to keep going, even when the path is unclear. The story moves with her from the village to the city, from girlhood to womanhood, never letting go of the emotional texture that defines her journey.
The political movements in the background, the fight for India’s independence, the protests, the hope, the confusion are always present, but the focus remains on the private world of a young woman trying to shape her own life. Bombay it transforms into a character of its own, mirroring the chaos, beauty and urgency of the times. One of the most poignant aspects of the book is the bond between Malati and her sister Kamala. Their relationship is one of shared dreams, disagreements, protective love and mutual dependence. Their connection brings warmth and depth to the novel, allowing readers to feel the quiet power of sisterhood in an era that rarely acknowledged women’s inner lives.
The writing flows with grace and assurance. Author draws on her vast experience in international diplomacy, women’s rights and policymaking, but lets those insights sit quietly beneath the surface. The result is a novel that offers historical perspective without turning into a lecture, and emotional resonance without sentimentality. The personal struggles Malati faces, heartbreak, betrayal, uncertainty, hope never feel separate from the political turmoil around her. They are part of the same story, told through the lens of someone finding her place in a rapidly changing world. It gives space to the voices of women who contributed to India’s freedom with strength and grace, often outside the spotlight. Puri’s work honours those inner battles that shaped outer revolutions, leaving readers with characters they can carry with them long after the final page.
Hardeep Singh Puri, Union Minister, shared his pride on social media, “Talking of Love… Proud of my batchmate, former colleague, a doting mother of our daughters & affectionate grandmother, steadfast friend and spouse Lakshmi M Puri on receiving the prestigious Pandit Hari Dutt Sharma Award for her epic love story & bestselling literary magnum opus ‘Swallowing the Sun’. Like all other causes she associates with and battles which she fights to win, I am witness to the painstaking research and effort with which she created this masterpiece. Happy for the love which readers, litterateurs and critics are showing for her book.”
The award ceremony was coordinated by Dr HN Sharma, Shailendra Sharma, Smt. Chitra Sharma, Dr Ashok Chakradhar, Adv Alok Krishna Agrawal, Dr Raju Vyas, Dr Naresh Sharma, Sahu Akhilesh Jain, Manoj Sharma, Monica Sharma, Ajay Sharma and Rajkumar Sharma, under the banner of Pandit Hari Dutt Sharma Puraskar Samiti.
About the Book
Book: Swallowing the Sun
Author: Lakshmi Puri
Publisher: Aleph book Company
Price: Rs 899/-