15 Oct :Beating predictions by bookies and others, debutant Indian novelist 33-year-old Aravind Adiga’s book "The White Tiger" was on Wednesday declared the winner of the prestigious Man Booker Prize for Fiction for 2008.
Adiga beat favourite Sebastian Barry to take the 50,000 pound (USD 47,000) prize.The other authors in the shortlist were Amitav Ghosh, Steve Toltz, Linda Grant and Philip Hensher.
Adiga’s novel was described as a "compelling, angry and darkly humorous" novel about a man’s journey from Indian village life to entrepreneurial success. It was described by one reviewer as an "unadorned portrait" of India seen "from the bottom of the heap".Adiga, who wanted to be a novelist since he was a boy, was born in Madras (now known as Chennai) and now lives in Mumbai.He becomes the fifth Indian author to win the prize, joining V S Naipaul, Salman Rushdie, Arundhati Roy and Kiran Desai who won the prize in 1971, 1981, 1997 and 2006 respectively.
In addition, "The White Tiger" is the ninth winning novel to take its inspiration from India or Indian identity.His book, "The White Tiger", has been published by Atlantic Books and has already won rave reviews.
Michael Portillo, chairman of the judges, said: "In many ways it was the perfect novel.The judges found the decision difficult because the shortlist contained such strong candidates. In the end, The White Tiger prevailed because the judges felt that it shocked and entertained in equal measure.
Peter Clarke, Chief Executive of Man Group PLC, presented a cheque of 50,000 pounds to Adiga at a gala dinner in the Guildhall in London.Michael Portillo, Chair of the judges, said "The judges found the decision difficult because the shortlist contained such strong candidates. In the end, The White Tiger prevailed because the judges felt that it shocked and entertained in equal manner.”
"The novel undertakes the extraordinarily difficult task of gaining and holding the reader’s sympathy…dealing with pressing social issues and significant global developments with astonishing humour."
Each of the six shortlisted authors, including the winner, receives 2,500 pounds (USD 4,357) and a designer-bound edition of their book.The judging panel for the 2008 Man Booker Prize for Fiction comprised: former MP and Cabinet minister Michael Portillo, editor of Granta Alex Clark; novelists Louise Doughty, founder of Ottakar’s bookshops James Heneage and Hardeep Singh Kohli, a TV and radio broadcaster.
Patil congratulates Adiga
President Pratibha Patil has congratulated Aravind Adiga — winner of 2008 Man Booker prize — for his achievement.In her message to the 33-year old author, Patil said that the honour was international recognition of Indian writings.
The Mumbai-based author was announced winner of the coveted prize for his novel "The White Tiger".The novel is a narrative of Balram Halwai, a school dropout who kisses entrepreneurial success in booming Indian economy.
Adiga is the fifth Indian writer after V S Naipaul, Salman Rushdie, Arundhati Roy and Kiran Desai to lift the 50,000-British Pounds prize.
PM congratulates Booker prize winner Aravind Adiga
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday congratulated 2008 Man Booker prize winner Aravind Adiga, saying the nation was proud of him.
"The nation is proud of the international recognition of Adiga’s talent," he said in his congratulatory message to the writer, who won the coveted prize for his novel "The White Tiger".
While congratulating Adiga, Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee said the award will inspire and encourage aspiring young authors to produce quality literature of world standard.
33-year old Adiga beat Sebastian Barry to take the 50,000 pound (USD 47,000) prize, becoming the fifth Indian author to win the laurels, joining V S Naipaul, Salman Rushdie, Arundhati Roy and Kiran Desai who won the prize in the past. DDINEWS
It is proud of indians, arvind we all are very happy and dont have words to explain our feelings . congratulation my dear .
Harpreet, Gurgaon