Ninth Vani Foundation Distinguished Translator Award goes to Shanta Gokhale

The 9th Vani Foundation Distinguished Translator Award for the year 2025 was presented to Shanta Gokhale for her contribution towards creating an unprecedented bridge between Marathi and English languages. The award honors those translators who have consistently and qualitatively facilitated literary and linguistic exchange between at least two Indian or international languages. This award was deemed necessary in light of the lack of initiatives to encourage direct exchange between Indian and international languages. The award especially favors translators who have produced a significant literary corpus. It carries a monetary prize of one lakh Indian rupees or equivalent, in addition to the trophy and testimonial letter. The award is in its 9th edition in 2025.

Sanjoy Roy, Managing Director, Teamwork Arts, said, “Translations allow us to access the rich diversity of stories across languages. The Vani Foundation Distinguished Translator Award has helped focus on the art of translation and has brought to the fore some of the best works from across the country.”

While, Arun Maheshwari, Chairman of Vani Foundation,said, “The role of translators in connecting human civilization and spreading empathy has become even more pertinent in today’s times when conflicts and wars stare into our faces. We are deeply humbled that the Vani Foundation Distinguished Translator Award is in its 9th year and continues to receive support from the distinguished Jury.”