'Tomb of Sand' by Geetanjali Shree is FIRST Hindi fiction to be shortlisted for International Bookers Prize

Shree's book, described by the judges as a "loud and irresistible novel", will compete with five other titles from around the world for the prestigious 50,000 pounds literary prize, which is split evenly between the author and translator.

London/New Delhi: Author Geetanjali Shree's novel 'Tomb of Sand' on Thursday (April 8) became the first Hindi language work of fiction to be shortlisted for the International Booker Prize. Shree's book, translated into English by Daisy Rockwell and described by the judges as a "loud and irresistible novel", will compete with five other titles from around the world for the prestigious 50,000 pounds literary prize, which is split evenly between the author and translator.

"The (International) Booker is a very special recognition and I wasn't waiting for it, wasn't expecting it, so its coming is a wonderful surprise for me and recognition for our work -- what Daisy (Rockwell) my translator has done and my original work 'Ret Samadhi'," Shree told PTI. "It is such a wonderful ratification that it comes from the Booker committee, and it has come repeatedly, first they put me on the longlist and now the shortlist ... Of course, it takes a bit of time to sink in," said the 64-year-old author, hoping to attend the award ceremony in London on May 26 this year.

The other five titles on the shortlist announced at the London Book Fair include: 'Cursed Bunny' by Bora Chung, translated by Anton Hur from Korean; 'A New Name: Septology VI-VII' by Jon Fosse, translated by Damion Searls from Norwegian; 'Heaven' by Mieko Kawakami, translated by Samuel Bett and David Boyd from Japanese; 'Elena Knows' by Claudia Pieiro, translated by Frances Riddle from Spanish; and 'The Books of Jacob' by Olga Tokarczuk, translated by Jennifer Croft from Polish.

"Translation is an intimate, intricate dance that crosses borders, cultures, and languages. There is little to compare to the awe and exhilaration of discovering a perfect pairing of writer and translator,? said Frank Wynne, chair of the judges and the first translator to lead the Booker judging panel. "As a jury we have had the pleasure of reading many extraordinary books, and choosing a shortlist from among them has been difficult and sometimes heartbreaking. These six titles from six languages explore the borders and boundaries of human experience, whether haunting and surreal, poignant and tender, or exuberant and capricious. In their differences, they offer glimpses of literature from around the world, but they all share fierce and breath-taking originality that is a testament to the endless inventiveness of fiction," he said.

For the first time in 2022, the shortlisted authors and translators will each receive 2,500 pounds, an increase from 1,000 pounds in previous years', bringing the total value of the prize to 80,000 pounds. "The constantly shifting perspectives and timeframes of Geetanjali Shree's inventive, energetic 'Tomb of Sand' lead us into every cranny of an 80-year-old woman's life and surprising past," the judges said of Geetanjali Shree's Hindi novel.