Kishwar Desai wins Costa First Novel Award
It is with no surprise that we heard about Kishwar Desai winning the Costa First Novel Award 2010 earlier this week. Her novel, Witness the Night is a poignant and harrowing story set in a small town in India – a mystery which begins with a young girl found tied to a bed and barely alive, with 13 dead bodies strewn around her. The novel delves into controversial but pressing issues of “gendercide” and the oppression of women in India.
When we got in touch with Kishwar after hearing the news, she naturally expressed her delight. “It’s a wonderful feeling,” she said. “I have also learnt that I am the first Indian woman to get this particular prize – which makes this an even more special moment.”
She may be the first Indian to win, but the fact that two of the other three short-listed contenders in her category have some form of South Asian influence, is certainly noteworthy.
Other South Asian novels short-listed include Aatish Taseer’s The Temple-Goers which was compared to Mira Nair’s iconic film Monsoon Wedding by Andrew Robinson in The Independent, and Nikesh Shukla’s Coconut Unlimited, a story about three English school boys of South Asian origin, at Harrow, who decide to start a hip-hop band.
When asked about her category, Kishwar noted, “I was overwhelmed to see that there was an Asian flavour to all the books shortlisted for the first novel award – but it is also a sign of the times; not only are Asians becoming very strongly a part of the mainstream in the UK, but we are also telling our stories with much more vigour, honesty and engagement. And that is why the world is sitting up and taking notice. Not because our stories are exotic or quaint, but because they actually matter!”
Witness the Night was acclaimed by the Costa Award judges who stated, “We were thrilled and exhilarated by this stunning debut. Just like her feisty main character, Desai has fearlessly blown the lid on the problems that simmer under the surface of modern-day India.” Indeed, the novel is to be the first book in a series which will feature the central character, social worker Simran Singh.
Kishwar previously worked in TV journalism, and held senior positions in major networks in India, but is now a full-time writer and columnist. “I have loads of other ideas for novels – as well as for books in Indian cinema,” Kishwar muses. “There is so much to write and so little time!”
The Costa Novel Award winner was Maggie O’Farrell for The Hand That First Held Mine, while the Biography Award went to Edmund de Waal for The Hare with Amber Eyes. Jo Shapcott won the Poetry Award for Of Mutability and the Children’s Book Award went to Jason Wallace’s Out of Shadows.
The Costa Award ceremony will be held in London on 25 January 2011, where the five winners will each receive their £5,000 prize. The five winners are now also contenders for the £30,000 prize for Costa Book of the Year, which will be announced at the ceremony.
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