Author Jhumpa Lahiri To Receive St. Louis Literary Honor

India-West News Desk

ST. LOUIS, MO – Saint Louis University has named Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jhumpa Lahiri as the recipient of its 2026 St. Louis Literary Award. This annual recognition celebrates writers whose work enriches readers’ understanding of the human condition.

Lahiri, acclaimed for her insightful portrayals of identity, cultural displacement, and the immigrant experience, is scheduled to accept the award in St. Louis in 2026. The St. Louis Literary Award boasts a history of recognizing literary giants, with past recipients including Margaret Atwood and Salman Rushdie.

Edward Ibur, the executive director of the St. Louis Literary Award, lauded Lahiri’s compelling narrative style and her profound exploration of universal themes. Her significant literary contributions include “Interpreter of Maladies,” which garnered the Pulitzer Prize, the widely acclaimed novel “The Namesake,” and “The Lowland,” a finalist for the Man Booker Prize. Lahiri’s diverse body of work also encompasses short story collections, essays, and her endeavors in translation.

Born in London to Bengali parents and raised in the United States, Lahiri’s writing frequently delves into the complexities of language and belonging.

Her distinguished career is marked by numerous honors, including the PEN/Hemingway Award and the National Humanities Medal.

Currently, Lahiri holds the position of Director of Creative Writing at Barnard College, Columbia University.