The Jhalak Prize was established after Sunny Singh, and fellow cofounder Nikesh Shukla, noted the 2015 World Book Night booklist consisted of white authors only
Date: 2 March 2016
Senior lecturer in BA Creative Writing Sunny Singh has cofounded a new literary prize which seeks out the best books by British writers of colour. It has been created in partnership with Media Diversified, a non-profit organisation which seeks to promote writers of colour. The prize is supported by the Authors' Club.
The Jhalak Prize for Book of the Year by a Writer of Colour will award its winner a £1000 prize annually and will be the first UK prize to only accept entries from writers of colour.
“'When the marginalised demand structural change, our demands are fobbed off with being told to 'do something for ourselves',” says Sunny Singh, cofounder and chair of judges for the Jhalak Prize, “The Jhalak Prize is precisely 'doing something.
“The prize will recognise, reward and honour literary talent and achievement by British writers of colour who are often ignored, overlooked and erased.
“I hope it not only stops the patronising suggestions that we aren't taking action but also inspires the publishing industry to look beyond the present narrow margins.”
Submissions are open from 1 January to 31 December 2016 and entries must have been published originally in English and the author must have been a resident of the UK for a minimum of one calendar year.
The full judging panel will be revealed in summer 2016 and will consist of authors, journalists and broadcasters of colour.
To submit an entry or to find out further information, email nikesh@mediadiversified.org.
