2017 DSC Prize winner to be announced at Dhaka Lit Fest

In line with its South Asian essence of being hosted in different countries of the region by rotation, the DSC Literary Prize will be announced this year at the Dhaka Literary Festival (DLF) on November 18.
The winning author will be felicitated on the concluding day of the festival, which is scheduled to begin on November 16.
Instituted by Surina and Manhad Narula in 2010, the USD 25,000 DSC Prize for South Asian Literature is a leading international literary award specifically focused on South Asian fiction writing.
The five-member international jury, which is adjudicating the books, as well as the five or six shortlisted authors, are likely to attend the award ceremony.

Speaking about the partnership with DLF, Surina Narula says it will bring in significant positive synergies to further the cause of South Asian writing.
"We are delighted to partner with the Dhaka Literary Festival this year. Being one of the leading literary festivals in the region with its focus on South Asia we see a lot of positive synergy in this partnership. The DSC Prize is now in its seventh year and in line with its South Asian essence, our plan has been to announce its winner in different South Asian countries by rotation," she says.

The winner of the DSC Prize 2015, which went to Jhumpa Lahiri, was announced at the Jaipur Literature Festival in India while the name of last year's winner, Anuradha Roy, was announced at the Galle Literary Festival in Sri Lanka.

DLF director and producer Sadaf Saaz says the organisers of the festival are delighted to be hosting the DSC Prize, calling it one of the most prestigious international literary prizes, specifically focused on South Asian writing.
"The aim of the DSC Prize to bring writing on South Asia to a global audience, as well as nurturing the best talent writing about South Asia, aligns with our vision at Dhaka Lit Fest, of enabling voices from this region to have a reach far beyond our borders. The DSC Prize also seeks to promote writing in regional languages by encouraging entries in translation, an area we strongly support at Dhaka Lit Fest.

"We are very excited about this partnership, and look forward to having some wonderful conversations with some of the most talented writers in South Asian literature, at Dhaka Lit Fest this year," Saaz says.
Over the years, the DSC Prize has been successful in bringing South Asian writing to a larger global audience through rewarding and showcasing the achievements of the authors writing about this region.
Other past winners of the prize are H M Naqvi of Pakistan, Shehan Karunatilaka of Sri Lanka and Jeet Thayil and Cyrus Mistry from India.