Geetanjali Shree’s ‘Tomb of Sand’ becomes 1st Hindi novel to win International Booker Prize

Author Geetanjali Shree’s ‘Tomb of Sand’ won the International Booker Prize, the first for a Hindi novel. The novel was originally published as ‘Ret Samadhi’.

Delhi-based author Geetanjali Shree and American translator Daisy Rockwell won the International Booker Prize for their novel ‘Tomb of Sand’. (Photo: @TheBookerPrizes)

Delhi-based author Geetanjali Shree and American translator Daisy Rockwell won the International Booker Prize on Thursday for their novel ‘Tomb of Sand’.

Originally written in Hindi, ‘Tomb of Sand’ is the first book in any Indian language to win the prestigious award.

“We are delighted to announce that the winner of the #2022InternationalBooker Prize is ‘Tomb of Sand’ by Geetanjali Shree, translated from Hindi to English by @shreedaisy and published by @tiltedaxispress,” The Booker Prizes said in a tweet.

Shree’s book, originally published as ‘Ret Samadhi’, was described by the judges as “loud and irresistible”.

The first Hindi-language book that was shortlisted for the £50,000 prize. The prize money will be split between Geetanjali and Rockwell.

‘Tomb of Sand’ narrates the story of an 80-year-old woman who is depressed after her husband’s death. Eventually, she overcomes her depression and decides to visit Pakistan to finally confront the past that she left behind during the Partition.

Shree is the author of three novels and several story collections with her work translated into English, French, German, Serbian, and Korean.

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