Pankaj Mishra Wins Canadian Writing Award
India-West Staff Reporter
TORONTO – Indian writer Pankaj Mishra, renowned for his insightful works on the Global South, Western imperialism in Asia, and contemporary spirituality, has won the 2024 Weston International Award. This prestigious $75,000 prize honors an international author for their lifetime achievement in nonfiction. To qualify, authors must have published at least three nonfiction books of outstanding literary merit in English or be widely available in translation.
Mishra, who splits his time between London and Mashobra, India, has authored eight nonfiction books, including Age of Anger, From the Ruins of Empire, and Butter Chicken in Ludhiana. He has also written two novels, The Romantics and Run and Hide. Additionally, he is a regular columnist for Bloomberg and contributes to publications like The Guardian, The New Yorker, and the London Review of Books.
The award jury praised Mishra’s work for its “compelling and essential body of work that seamlessly weaves memoir, philosophy, history, sociology, and criticism.” They highlighted his ability to address complex issues of identity, nationalism, and belonging, calling him “a light cutting through shadow” during a time when democracy is under threat.
Mishra was chosen by an international advisory committee that included U.K. broadcaster Mariella Frostrup, writer Pico Iyer, and American historian Sam Tanenhaus, along with a Canadian jury comprising authors and literary figures like Trevor Herriot, Helen Humphreys, Jessica J. Lee, Kyo Maclear, and Harley Rustad.
The Writers’ Trust of Canada, the organization behind the Weston International Award, supports Canadian writers through various initiatives, including literary awards, fellowships, and financial grants. Founded in 1976 by literary figures such as Margaret Atwood and Pierre Berton, the Trust honors excellence in fiction, nonfiction, and short stories.
Mishra will receive his award at an event at the Royal Ontario Museum here on September 16, where he will deliver a talk on his career and body of work.
