Author Geetanjali Shree’s book, Ret Samadhi, translated to English as Tomb of Sand by American writer and translator Daisy Rockwell, became the first Hindi language work of fiction to get shortlisted for the International Booker Prize. The novel was described by the judges as a “loud and irresistible” one. The winning book will win a prize of a whopping 50,000 pounds, which will be split between the author and the 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,” Shree added.
The reason this year’s International Booker Prize is so special is that out of six shortlisted books, five are by female authors, and three have been translated by women too. These are books that have been translated to English from a different language, and for the first time in 17 years, a Hindi book has made it to the list.
The other five titles 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.
In fact, this year is a milestone one as for the first time ever, the shortlisted authors and translators will receive 2,500 pounds as opposed to 1,000 pounds in the previous years.