The Publishing Next Industry Awards has officially announced its list of nominees for 2025. This will be the 12th edition of the awards, which will take place on January 12, 2026, in New Delhi. The event aims to celebrate outstanding talent in the publishing sector across 11 different categories. Since their inception in 2014, these awards have recognized creativity, entrepreneurship, and excellence in the art of book publishing.
Celebrating the Best in Publishing
The shortlisted nominees are commendable individuals and organizations that have showcased remarkable efforts in the world of literature. Let’s take a closer look at the nominees in each category:
Editor of the Year
- Anita Manu from Juggernaut Books
- Lokesh Malti Prakash from Eklavya Foundation
- Reena Shalini from Kalachuvadu Publications
- Seema from Eklavya Foundation
These editors have made significant contributions to book publishing in various genres, helping bring quality literature to readers.
Illustrator of the Year
- Cheyenne Olivier – Juggernaut Books
- Krishna Bala Shenoi – Pratham Books
- Ogin Nayam – Pratham Books
- Pankaj Saikia – Pratham Books
- Rajiv Eipe – HarperCollins India
Illustrators play an essential role in storytelling, and these talented individuals have brought stories to life through their amazing visuals.
Printed Book of the Year (English)
Shortlisted entries include:
- 100 Indian Stories: A Feast of Remarkable Short Fiction from the 19th, 20th, and 21st Centuries – Edited by AJ Thomas, Aleph Book Company
- Gods, Guns, and Missionaries: The Making of The Modern Hindu Identity – Manu S Pillai, Penguin Random House India
- Love in the Time of Hate: In the Mirror of Urdu – Edited by Rakshanda Jalil, Simon & Schuster India
- Our Potpourri Planet – Ranjit Lal, HarperCollins India
- Tales from the Dawn-Lit Mountains: Stories from Arunachal Pradesh – Subi Taba, Penguin Random House India
This category highlights the diverse voices and experiences of Indian writers, making it a tough competition.
Printed Book of the Year (Art, Illustration, and Photography)
- FN Souza: The Archetypal Artist – Janeita Singh, Niyogi Books
- Food and Farming: A Journey Through India in Comics – Orijit Sen, Vidyun Sabhaney, Harsho Mohan Chattoraj, Leftword Books
- PNK Panicker’s Ghost Stories – Suresh Eriyat, illustrated by Adithi Krishnadas, Tulika Publishers
- Rain Dogs – Rohit Chawla, HarperCollins India
- Theyyam: Indian Folk Ritual Theatre – An Insider’s Vision – KK Gopalakrishnan, Niyogi Books
These entries show the creative flair in visual storytelling that adds another layer to the reading experience.
Printed Book of the Year (Indian Languages)
- Aazaadi – Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni, translated by Naved Akber, HarperCollins India
- Awaak – Gagan Gill, Rajkamal Prakashan
- Bhojan aur Pachan – Anu Gupta, illustrated by Karen Haydock, designed by Kanak Shashi, Eklavya Foundation
- Gungunaiye – Gulzar, Radhakrishna Prakashan
- Seepiyaan – Javed Akhtar, Rajkamal Prakashan
This category emphasizes the importance of literature in Indian languages and its significant cultural impact.
Children’s Book of the Year (Ages 0-8)
- Cutpiece Kumar – Written and illustrated by Indu L Harikumar
- Ee ki Matra – Farah Aziz, illustrated by Rajiv Eipe, Jugnoo Prakashan
- Go Go Flamingo – Devashish Makhija, illustrated by Priya Kuriyan
- Nila Nila – Written and composed by Gurupriya Atreya and Vedanth Bharadwaj
- The Rat in the Cat – Arundhati Venkatesh, illustrated by Canato Jimo, Pratham Books
These delightful stories are crafted for young readers, encouraging their love for books from an early age.
Children’s Book of the Year (Ages 8+)
- Kya, Hai Kya Ye – Written and illustrated by Rohan Chakravarty
- Master of the 7 Swars – Pratyush Gupta, Roli Books
- Song of the Asunam – CG Salamander, HarperCollins Children’s Books
- The Little Book of Indian Dogs – Anusha Ramanathan, HarperCollins Children’s Books
- The School for Bad Girls – Madhurima Vidyarthi, Duckbill
These books capture the sense of adventure and curiosity that older children are often drawn to.
Book Cover of the Year (Children’s Books)
- Baloo’s Big Win – Cover designed by Samar Bansal
- How and Why Tales – Cover designed by Gina Mary James
- Kempi – Cover designed by Richa Shubhangi
- Master of the 7 Swars – Cover designed by Pratyush Gupta
- Muthu and Kappu – Cover designed by Sheena Deviah
A book’s cover is the first impression it makes, and these designs beautifully capture the stories within.
Book Cover of the Year (Indian Languages)
- Adugemaneyalondu Huli – Cover designed by Karthik
- On Merleau-Ponty – Cover designed by Trinankur Banerjee
- Phans – Cover designed by Shiraz Hussain
- Thakurbadi – Cover designed by Aditya
- Ujla Andhera – Cover designed by Shiraz Hussain
These talented designers have created covers that are not only eye-catching but also reflect the essence of the stories.
Book Cover of the Year (English)
- Bird Milk and Mosquito Bones – Designed by Aakriti Khurana
- Dalit Kitchens of Marathwada – Cover designed by Amit Malhotra
- Maria, Just Maria – Cover designed by Aashim Raj
- The Burnings – Cover designed by Haitenlo Semy
- The Many Lives of Pauloma Chattopadhyay – Cover designed by Amit Malhotra
These designs are a testament to how important a good illustration is in attracting readership.
Publisher of the Year
- Aleph Book Company
- Ektara Trust
- Juggernaut Books
- Pan Macmillan India
- Yoda Press
These publishing houses have been pivotal in nurturing and promoting new voices in literature.
The upcoming Publishing Next Industry Awards is sure to be a grand celebration of creativity and excellence in the publishing sector. With wonderful talent showcased in various categories, it aims to inspire even more exceptional work in the future.
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