“Younger writers reflect new and evolving world views”

Namita Gokhale is a writer and festival director. She is the author of twenty three works of fiction and non-fiction. Her acclaimed debut novel, Paro: Dreams of Passion, was published in 1984. Recent fiction includes The Blind Matriarch and Jaipur Journals. Never Never Land is scheduled for publication in 2024.

Recent non-fiction includes Mystics and Sceptics: In Search of Himalayan Masters. Gokhale’s work spans various genres, including novels, short stories, Himalayan studies, mythology, several anthologies, books for young readers, and a recent play. She is the recipient of various prizes and awards, including the prestigious Sahitya Akademi (National Academy of Literature) Award 2021 for her novel Things to Leave Behind. She is the co-founder and co-director (with William Dalrymple) of the famed Jaipur Literature Festival.

The world’s largest and most prestigious literary prize for young writers – the Swansea University Dylan Thomas Prize 2024, featured six extraordinary, emerging voices whose writing plays with formal inventiveness to explore the timeless themes of grief, identity, and family.Namita Gokhale – Chair of Judges for the 2024 Swansea University Dylan Thomas Prize, shares more about the award. Excerpts.

AABP: Share your views on Swansea University Dylan Thomas Prize and its significance?

Namita: The Swansea University Dylan Thomas Prize is one of the most important prizes I have personally been associated with. It reaches out across continents and cultures, nationalities, and genres, to support diversity and inclusiveness and to encourage the younger generation of writers under the age of 39. It offers support and nurturing to creative persons at the stage in their careers when they need it most.

AABP: How do you adapt your judging criteria when evaluating submissions from young writers compared to more experienced authors?

Namita: It has been interesting over the years to watch how some of the longlisted and shortlisted writers flower in new and unexpected directions. For the judges, each book is unique in itself and the age or circumstances of the authors don’t really impact the assessment.

AABP: What specific qualities or elements do you prioritize when assessing the works of young writers?

Namita: The freshness and immediacy of young writers is something to value and cherish. The younger writers reflect new and evolving world views, but I don’t think, as I have stressed before, that age by itself is the decisive factor. Many younger writers turn to history and the past in their narratives. The older ‘under 39’ voices may well be the more radical.

AABP: Can you share any strategies you employ to ensure fairness and impartiality in the judging process, especially considering the age and experience of the participants?

Namita: The jury process is transparent and each member of the jury makes their choices depending on which books reach out to them individually.

AABP: What are your goals or aspirations for promoting and supporting young writers through your role as a Judge Chair?

Namita: The Swansea University Dylan Thomas Prize is awarded to writers aged 39 or younger, across literary fields that include novels, short stories, poetry and plays. As the Chair, I seek consensus between the members of the jury as they search the winner from the range of brilliant submissions, across the stages of the longlist, the shortlist, and the final awardee. All of us read and re-read the books, and discuss our reactions, our insights and appreciations and also our critiques, at length with each other.

AABP: How do you envision the future of literary awards like Swansea University Dylan Thomas Prize?

Namita: This has been and will remain a crucial prize to recognise new voices and trends in literature across genres. It celebrates and nurtures international literary excellence, to support the writers of today and nurture the talents of tomorrow. Swansea University provides an invaluable platform and deep support to the Prize, which honours the genius of Dylan Thomas, who was born in Swansea.