Shahina K K

Shahina K K is a vibrant voice in the landscape of Indian journalism. Recognised with the International Press Freedom Award 2023 and the prestigious Chameli Devi Jain Award 2011, Shahina is passionate about illuminating untold stories and marginalised perspectives. She is a Senior Editor for Outlook Magazine and a contributor for The Washington Post.

Nandini Nair

Nandini Nair is an acclaimed arts journalist with more than 15 years of experience. She is currently the literary and culture editor of Open Magazine, having previously worked in The Indian Express and The Hindu. She runs a monthly event in Pune called Talking Books, which brings India’s best authors to the city.

Sheela Tomy

Sheela Tomy is a renowned Malayalam author. Her debut novel, Valli, was awarded the acclaimed Cherukad Award for Malayalam Literature in 2021. The English translation of Valli by Jayashree Kalathil has received many accolades including the Pen N Paper Book Award, the V. Abdulla Award, the Book of the Year Award for Translation by FICCI and was also shortlisted for many national and international awards including the JCB Award for Literature, ALTA National Translation Prize, BLF Book Prize, GreenLitFest Award and Muse India Award. Her newest novel, Aa Nadiyodu Preu Chodikkaruth received many recognitions including the Muthukulam Parvathy Amma Award and the Maniyoor E Balan Award. Her recent recognitions include the Madhyamam She Q Excellence Award and the KCBC Media Award for Literature. Sheela Tomy has also contributed as lyricist and script writer for radios.

V J James

An acclaimed author, V J James is known for works that deal with complex subjects in an easy-to-understand language. A scientist by profession, he worked at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre. His debut novel, Purappadinte Pusthakam won the DC Books Silver Jubilee Novel Award, the Malayatoor Prize and the Rotary Literary Award. For his novel Nireeshwaran, V J James won the 2017 Kerala Sahitya Academy Award and the 2019 Vayalar Award. His novel, Anti-Clock, won the O V Vijayan Award and the Thikkurissi Foundation Award. His works have also been translated into the English Language.

T D Ramakrishnan

T D Ramakrishnan is a critically acclaimed author and translator. He is the author of two widely acclaimed Malayalam novels, namely, Francis Ittykora and Sugandhi Enna Andal Devanayaki. The English translation of the latter titled Sugandhi Alias Andal Deavanayaki was longlisted for the DSC South Asian Literature Prize 2019. T D Ramakrishnan is the recipient of several prestigious literary accolades such as the Kerala Sahitya Academy Award, the Vayalar Award and the Basheer Award instituted by the Kerala Bhasha Institute. Retiring from professional service as the Chief Controller of the Palakkad Division in the Southern Railway, he is also the recipient of the 2003 National Award for Outstanding Performance instituted by the Railway Ministry. Pacha, Manja, ChuvappuSirajunnisaMama Africa and Alpha are a few of his other notable publications. 

Manu S Pillai

Manu S. Pillai is an acclaimed historian and celebrated author of five books. A winner of the Sahitya Akademi Yuva Puraskar for his first book, The Ivory Throne, he is also a columnist at Mint Lounge. Rebel Sultans: The Deccan from Khilji to ShivajiThe Courtesan, the Mahatma & the Italian Brahmin: Tales from Indian HistoryFalse Allies: India’s Maharajahs in the Age of Ravi Varma are his other noted worksGods, Guns & Missionaries: The Making of the Modern Hindu Identity is his most recent publication. Manu holds a PhD in history from King’s College, London.

Murali Gopy

Murali Gopy is a renowned actor-screenwriter, producer, author, singer, lyricist, music composer and journalist. He has written films like Ee Adutha Kaalathu, Left Right Left, Tiyaan, and Lucifer. He has served in various capacities at institutions like The New Indian Express and The Hindu. He has also been accoladed with several awards including the Bharata Kesari Puraskaram, Chalachitra Ratna Puraskar and Kalajyothi Award among others.

Shashi Tharoor

A fourth-term Member of Parliament for Thiruvananthapuram, Dr Shashi Tharoor is the bestselling author of twenty-six books, both fiction and non-fiction. He was also the former Under Secretary-General of the United Nations and a former Minister of State for Human Resource Development and for External Affairs in the Government of India. He has won numerous awards, including the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman, a Commonwealth Writers’ Prize and the Crossword Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2019, Dr. Tharoor was also awarded the Sahitya Akademi Award in the category of ‘English Non-Fiction’ for his book An Era of Darkness. He has previously chaired the Parliament’s Standing Committee on Chemicals and Fertilizers as well as the Standing Committee on External Affairs and the Committee on Information Technology. A Wonderland of Words: Around the Word in 101 Essays is one among his recent publications.

Benyamin

Benyamin is an acclaimed author, best known for his magnum opus, Aadujeevitham, which earned him prestigious accolades such as the Kerala Sahitya Academy Award and the Abu Dhabi Sakti Award. Several of his works have been translated into English. Benyamin is the recipient of the debut JCB Prize for Literature for his novel Jasmine Days which has been translated into English by Shahnaz Habib. AbeeshaginManjaveyil MarangalPravachakanmarude Randam PusthakamMantharilile 20 Communist VarshangalTharakans Grandhavari and Al Arabian Novel Factory are some of his other esteemed works.

Zacharia

A distinguished writer and columnist, Zacharia is known for his works in both Malayalam and English. He has published over fifty works and is backed with over twenty years of experience working in the Delhi Media and Publishing Industry. Zacharia is a Distinguished Fellow of the Kerala Sahitya Akademi and the recipient of several prestigious accolades such as the Kendra Sahitya Akademi Award, the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award and the Ezuthachan Award for his contributions to Malayalam literature. Praise the LordAyyappathinthakathomOru African Yathra and Bhaskarapattelarum Ente Jeevithavum are a few of his renowned works. Parakkum Sthree, a collection of short stories, is one among his most recent publications.