Mumbai, August 18, 2025 — Crossword Bookstores has announced an exceptional jury panel for the 2025 edition of the Crossword Book Awards, India’s most prestigious literary celebration. The distinguished 15-member panel brings together acclaimed authors, veteran editors, leading journalists, business leaders, and cultural commentators to evaluate this year’s submissions across five categories.
“For over 25 years, the Crossword Book Awards have served as the gold standard for literary recognition in India,” said Aakash Gupta, CEO of Crossword Bookstores. “This year’s jury embodies the passion, integrity, and deep literary insight that define these awards. We look forward to celebrating the voices that shape our stories and, in turn, our world.”
Meet the 2025 Jury Panel
Fiction
Navtej Sarna brings a unique perspective as both acclaimed novelist and distinguished diplomat. The former Ambassador to the United States and High Commissioner to the United Kingdom has authored three novels, including The Exile and Crimson Spring, alongside works of translation and literary criticism spanning history, culture, and politics.
Sunil Sethi has been shaping India’s literary discourse for decades as a journalist, columnist, and television presenter. A regular Business Standard columnist since 2000, he hosted NDTV’s influential literary show Just Books for eight years and authored several acclaimed works including Indian Interiors.
Vaishna Roy brings over three decades of editorial excellence to the panel. As editor of Frontline magazine, she continues to craft compelling narratives while contributing her popular columns “Woman, Uninterrupted” and “Speech Melba” to The Hindu’s Weekend section.
Non-Fiction
Satish Padmanabhan, Managing Editor at Outlook, contributes 25 years of journalism and literary criticism expertise. Beyond his editorial roles across major publications including Economic Times and NDTV, he has taught at the Times School of Journalism and Indian Institute of Mass Communication.
Mandira Nayar offers two decades of distinguished journalism as former Deputy Bureau Chief at The Week. A Charles Wallace Fellow and co-founder of cultural platform Agla Varka, she has covered culture, history, and foreign policy for The Hindu and The Telegraph.
Milan Vaishnav serves as Senior Fellow and Director of the South Asia Program at Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. The political economy expert authored the award-winning When Crime Pays and hosts the popular “Grand Tamasha” podcast.
Translations
Poonam Saxena has distinguished herself as journalist, writer, and translator. The former Hindustan Times executive who launched the popular Brunch magazine has translated major Hindi works including Dharmvir Bharati’s Gunahon ka Devta and co-authored filmmaker Karan Johar’s memoir.
S. Prasannarajan, Editor of Open magazine, brings seasoned editorial experience from senior roles at The Times of India, Indian Express, and India Today. His essays and cultural criticism continue to shape public discourse through incisive political and literary analysis.
Fathima E.V. represents excellence in translation from Kerala. Co-recipient of the 2021 JCB Prize for Literature for Delhi: A Soliloquy, her debut translation A Preface to Man won both the Crossword Prize for English Translation and V. Abdulla Translation Award in 2017.
Children’s Books
Anita Nair celebrates dual success in adult and children’s literature. The acclaimed author of Ladies Coupé and the Inspector Gowda series, along with The Puffin Book of Magical Indian Myths, has won Sahitya Akademi and Crossword Awards while mentoring emerging writers through Anita’s Attic.
Deepak Dalal captivates young readers with adventure stories exploring India’s wildlife and landscapes. His popular Vikram-Aditya series spans from Ladakh to the Andamans, while Feather Tales engages younger audiences with nature-based narratives.
Deepa Agarwal has published over 60 books for children and adults. Her impressive accolades include the N.C.E.R.T. National Award for Children’s Literature for Ashok’s New Friends and IBBY Honour List recognition for historical fiction Caravan to Tibet.
Business and Management
Mitali Mukherjee directs the Reuters Institute and Journalist Programmes at Oxford University’s Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism. With over two decades in political economy journalism across TV, print, and digital platforms, she brings global perspective to business literature evaluation.
Sonu Bhasin stands among India’s most accomplished business authors and senior women leaders. With three decades across financial and non-financial sectors, her six bestselling books include Lala Shri Ram: The Man Who Saw Tomorrow, winner of the 2024 Gaja Capital Business Book Prize.
Sruthijith KK serves as Executive Editor at The Economic Times, joining in late 2023 after serving as Editor-in-Chief at Mint. His deep understanding of evolving media landscapes and digital transformation brings contemporary relevance to business book evaluation.
About the Awards Process
Since 1998, the Crossword Book Awards have championed India’s finest authors while inspiring new literary voices. Each three-member category panel will longlist ten books from nationwide publisher submissions, narrow selections to five shortlisted titles, and ultimately choose category winners.
The awards uniquely combine expert judgment with public participation through Popular Choice Awards, where readers nationwide vote for winners across categories. This dual approach ensures comprehensive celebration of India’s contemporary literary landscape.
Looking Ahead
With expert evaluation and reader engagement, the 2025 Crossword Book Awards promises to highlight exceptional literary achievement while building excitement for this year’s celebration of India’s creative brilliance.
For more information: Follow @crosswordbookawards on Instagram
About Crossword Bookstores: India’s most cherished literary destination, continuing 27 years of celebrating exceptional writing through the nation’s most respected literary awards.
