Siddharth Kara Named 2024 Pulitzer Finalist
India-West News Desk
NEW YORK, NY – The 2024 Pulitzer Prizes were announced on May 6 by Columbia University, with Siddharth Kara’s groundbreaking work “Cobalt Red: How the Blood of the Congo Powers Our Lives” receiving recognition as a finalist in the General Nonfiction category.
The ceremony, presided over by Pulitzer Prize administrator Marjorie Miller, vice president, and global enterprise editor at the Associated Press, was broadcast live on YouTube, unveiling the winners and finalists of the 108th annual Pulitzer Prizes.
“It is an enormous triumph for the people of the DR Congo that “Cobalt Red” has been named a finalist for the 2024 Pulitzer Prize in non-fiction. As their voices are heard around the world, justice becomes inevitable,” Kara posted.
“Cobalt Red” serves as an eye-opening exposé, delving into the cobalt mining operations in the Southeastern Congo. Through meticulous research and firsthand accounts, Kara sheds light on the harrowing realities of modern-day slavery, revealing the inhumane working conditions and human rights abuses endured by miners, including men, women, and children, who extract the precious metal essential for various technological devices like smartphones, computers, and electric vehicles.
Kara’s investigation takes readers deep into the heart of cobalt territory, documenting the voices of the Congolese people themselves, who bear the brunt of the exploitation. From militia-controlled mining areas to the supply chain tracing child-mined cobalt to tech giants, Kara uncovers a system rife with suffering and tragedy.
Cobalt, a crucial component in lithium-ion rechargeable batteries powering everyday gadgets and electric vehicles, sees approximately 75% of its global supply sourced from the Congo, often through exploitative means. Kara’s work underscores the moral imperative for global attention to the plight of those affected by cobalt mining, arguing that consumers worldwide are complicit in a human rights and environmental crisis.
Siddharth Kara, an author, researcher, and activist on modern slavery, brings a wealth of experience and expertise to his work. A British Academy Global Professor and associate professor at Nottingham University, Kara has dedicated his career to shedding light on contemporary forms of slavery. His previous books on the subject have garnered acclaim, with one, ‘Trafficked’ adapted into a Hollywood film.
Kara’s personal journey, from an investment banker at Merrill Lynch to a leading voice in the fight against modern slavery, reflects his commitment to understanding and combatting this pervasive issue. Kara’s multidisciplinary approach underscores the urgency of addressing modern slavery from economic, social, and ethical perspectives.
Kara was born in Knoxville, Tennessee, to Indian parents of Hindu and Parsi background. He has degrees from Duke and Columbia Universities. He has taught at Harvard, UC Berkeley and speaks regularly at international forums. He is married to neuroscientist Aditi Shankardass,
