Indra Sinha's novel wins C'wealth regional award for Europe and South Asia

Indra Sinha’s Animal's People won the Commonwealth Writers Best Book Award for Europe and South Asia on Thursday for his brilliant portrayal of the tragic 1984 Bhopal Gas Tragedy which is still etched in nation’s conscience.

Delighted Sinha, after the winning the award said, “It's a great honour. I am delighted for Animal and his friends.”

Indra Sinha is an Indian born who now lives in southern France, he has been voted as one of the top ten British copywriters of all the time.

While Tahnima Anam of Bangladesh got the Best First Book Award for her book, A Golden Age, which revolves around the time and tides during the liberation of Bangladesh.

Makarand Paranjape, who head the chair of judge said, “The competition for the best book was stiff, but Animal's People by Indra Sinha won out in the end for its fiercely original, zesty style, coupled with seriousness of theme and intent.”

“Both the winning entries are humane, compassionate, and consistently impressive in their use of language and technique, telling of major historical events through the viewpoints of underprivileged but resolute protagonists,” he added.

Animal’s People will now contend with other similar winners from five different regions of Commonwealth including Africa, the Caribbean, the South Pacific, Canada and South East Asia for two prestigious award; overall Commonwealth Best Book and Best First Book to be awarded in May at Franschhoek literary festival in South Africa. The winner of the Best Book prize will receive 10,000 pounds and the winner of the Best First Book 5,000 pounds.

The other winners from other region includes The Hangman’s Game by Karen King-Aribisala, Imagine This Side by Sade Adeniran (Best Book and Best First Book, Africa), The Book of Negroes by Lawrence Hill, the End of the Alphabet by C S Richardson (Best Book and Best First Book, Canada and Caribbean), The Time We Have Taken by Steve Carroll, The Anatomy of Wings by Karen Foxlee (Best Book and Best First Book, South east Asia and South Pacific).

The novel Animal’s People is based on 1984 Bhopal Gas Tragedy in which thousands of people lost their life while many still continue to suffer. Animal is the protagonist who survives this disastrous incident. This novel was also shortlisted for 2007 Man Booker Prize.