Times of India,12 March 2010
PIO writer bags Commonwealth prize
NEW DELHI: Indian-origin writer Rana Dasgupta is a regional winner of the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize 2010 in the Best Book category for Europe and South Asia. His novel ‘Solo’, woven around the life of a 100-year-old Bulgarian, won him the award.
Daniyal Mueenuddin of Pakistan is the other winner for the same region, winning the Best First Book prize for his collection of short stories, ‘In Other Rooms, Other Wonders’.
The contenders for Best Book included two other novels by Indian authors — ‘For Pepper and Christ: A Novel by Keki Daruwalla’ and Amit Chaudhuri’s ‘The Immortals’. Dasgupta’s ‘Solo’ — an entry from Britain — also beat ‘The Beijing of Possibilities’ by Jonathan Tel (Britain), ‘Heartland’ by Anthony Catwright (Britain) and ‘Another Gulmohar Tree’ by Aamer Hussein (Pakistan).
The regional winners, four in each category, are in the shortlist for the international prize. A Best Book award in the final round fetches 10,000 British Pounds and Best First Book, 5,000 British Pounds. Winners will be announced at a function on April 12.