INDIA: The 9th Vani Foundation Distinguished Translator Award for 2025 will be presented to Shanta Gokhale for her work in bridging Marathi and English literature. The award recognizes translators who have significantly contributed to literary and linguistic exchange across Indian and international languages.
The jury for this year’s award includes Namita Gokhale, Co-Director of the Jaipur Literature Festival and recipient of the Sahitya Akademi Award; Arunava Sinha, translator and recipient of the 6th Vani Foundation Distinguished Translator Award; and Yatindra Mishra, poet, biographer, and recipient of the Swarn Kamal award. The award ceremony is scheduled to take place on February 3, 2025, at the Surya Mahal during the Jaipur Literature Festival.
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History of the Award
Established by Vani Foundation in collaboration with Teamwork Arts, the Distinguished Translator Award is presented annually at Jaipur BookMark. It aims to highlight the importance of translation in fostering cultural dialogue. The award includes a monetary prize of one lakh rupees, along with a trophy and testimonial letter.
Past recipients of the award include:
- 2015-2016: Attoor Ravi Verma (Malayalam)
- 2016-2017: Anamika (Bhojpuri)
- 2017-2018: Rita Kothari (Sindhi)
- 2018-2019: Teji Grover (Hindi)
- 2019-2020: Rakhshanda Jalil (Urdu)
- 2021-2022: Arunava Sinha (Bangla)
- 2022-2023: Daisy Rockwell (Hindi and Urdu)
- 2024-2025: Oscar Pujol (Sanskrit to Spanish)
About Shanta Gokhale
Born on August 14, 1939, in Dahanu, Maharashtra, Shanta Gokhale is a writer, translator, journalist, and theatre critic. She has played a significant role in Marathi and English literature through her novels, memoirs, and essays. Her notable works include the novels Rita Welinkar (1995) and Tya Varshi (2004), as well as Nirmala Patil Yaanche Atmakathan (2022). Her memoir, One Foot on the Ground: A Life Told Through the Body (2019), provides a personal narrative on her life experiences.
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Gokhale has also contributed extensively to theatre studies, including The Scenes We Made: An Oral History of Experimental Theatre in Mumbai (2015) and The Theatre of Veenapani Chawla: Theory, Practice, and Performance (2014). She has edited and contributed to multiple publications, furthering the reach of Marathi literature and Indian theatre.
In addition to her literary work, she has held editorial roles, including designing and editing the Arts Page for The Times of India, Mumbai. She has also been a lecturer at Elphinstone College and H.R. College of Commerce.
Perspectives on the Award
Jury member Namita Gokhale expressed appreciation for Gokhale’s contributions, stating, “We are honored to confer the 9th Vani Foundation Distinguished Translator Award to Shanta Gokhale, whose work has spanned decades of dedication and brilliance.”
Arunava Sinha noted, “Shanta Gokhale is a guiding light for translations and translators in India, demonstrating the power of literary exchange.”
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Yatindra Mishra highlighted the importance of the Marathi language in Indian literature, adding, “It is an honor to celebrate Shanta Gokhale’s work, which has opened Marathi literature to new audiences.”
About Vani Foundation
Vani Foundation is the non-profit arm of Vani Prakashan Group, a publishing house with over six decades of experience in Hindi literature. The foundation focuses on promoting translation efforts to enhance literary exchange. The Distinguished Translator Award was introduced to encourage cross-language literary dialogue and recognize outstanding contributions in the field.
The award presentation will be part of the Jaipur Literature Festival 2025, continuing its tradition of honoring significant literary contributions in translation.
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