JK MONITOR - Crossword Book Awards 2025 announces Popular Choice Shortlist, celebrating the voice of the reader

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In loving memory of Dr. Priya Ranjan: A mentor who treated me like family

I will always remember Dr. Priya Ranjan not only as the Chairman of JK Monitor, but as a mentor, guide and elder brother whose kindness shaped my life and work. Write a tribute at In Loving Memory · Dr. Priya Ranjan

When he appointed me Editor-in-Chief of JK Monitor (www.jkmonitor.org), he never made me feel like an employee. He treated me as a younger brother—with warmth, trust and respect. His guidance was generous, his encouragement sincere, and his door was always open whenever I needed help or advice. I will remain deeply grateful for the confidence he placed in me and for all that he taught me.

Dr. Ranjan was a rare and noble human being: kind-hearted, humble and always ready to help. He was also a visionary intellectual whose ideas reached beyond the immediate moment. He brought together deep knowledge, curiosity and a belief in using one’s abilities to make a meaningful difference.

The tributes from his students and colleagues speak of the same qualities I was fortunate to experience myself: a brilliant mind joined with a compassionate heart, and a mentor who made people feel valued. His influence lives on in the people he guided, the work he inspired and the many lives he touched.

For me, he will always be more than a respected chairman or a remarkable intellectual. He will be the elder brother who welcomed me, believed in me and guided me with affection. I will carry his lessons and his kindness with me always. May his soul rest in eternal peace. He will be deeply missed, lovingly remembered and never forgotten.

(Ajmer Alam Wani)

Fresh Reads - Explore Now!👇

October 2026

Details: Written by: JK Monitor News Network; Category: Bridging the World; Published: 03 October 2025

MUMBAI: The people’s voice takes centre stage as The Crossword Book Awards 2025 return with the much-awaited Popular Choice Shortlist, a vibrant mix of literary legends and rising stars. This is where readers get to decide their champions, and the power to choose is now in your hands. Voting for the Popular Choice Awards opens from 1 October 2025 and will remain live until 23 November 2025.

Featuring a stellar mix of celebrated literary icons and powerful new voices, this year’s shortlist captures the richness and diversity of Indian storytelling. The Popular Choice shortlist spans five key categories – Fiction, Non-fiction, Mind, Body & Spirit, Children’s Books and Business & Management, reflecting the wide scope of voices, themes, and narratives shaping India’s literary landscape today. All books in the Popular Choice Awards category include books published in India in English from 1 March 2024 to 31 March 2025, shortlisted on the basis of their sales across Crossword Bookstores.

Speaking about the announcement, Aakash Gupta, CEO of Crossword Bookstores, said: “The Popular Choice Shortlist showcases books that captured readers’ attention over the past year—stories and ideas that found their way into everyday conversations. This award is determined entirely by readers, who vote for the books that resonated most with them. It stands as a celebration of their role in shaping and supporting India’s literary landscape.”

The shortlisted books for this year's Crossword Book Awards - Popular Choice Awards 2025 have been announced across various categories. The extensive list includes:

Business & Management :

Build an Epic Career by Ankur Warikoo (Penguin Random House India)

Confessions of Stock Market Wizards by Safir Anand (HarperCollins India)

Money, Myths and Mantras by Devina Mehra (Penguin Random House India)

Ratan Tata by Thomas Mathew (HarperCollins India)

The Start-Up Code by Mukesh Bansal (Penguin Random House India)

Children's Books:

Grandpa’s Bag of Stories by Sudha Murty (Penguin Random House India)

Hold On to Your Dreams by Ruskin Bond (Penguin Random House India)

Miracles in Medicine by Roopa Pai (Hachette India)

The Tale of a Naughty Prank by Anand Neelakantan (Penguin Random House India)

The Whispering Mountains by Namita Gokhale and Malashri Lal, illustrated by Dennis Laishram (Penguin Random House India)

Fiction:

Mrityunjay by Parakh Om Bhatt and Raj Javiya (Penguin Random House India)

The Circle of Life by Sudha Murty (Penguin Random House India)

The Naga Warriors 1 by Akshat Gupta (Penguin Random House India)

Too Good to Be True by Prajakta Koli (HarperCollins India)

World's Best Ex-Girlfriend by Durjoy Datta (Penguin Random House India)

Non-fiction:

A Wonderland of Words by Shashi Tharoor (Aleph Book Company)

Gods, Guns & Missionaries by Manu S. Pillai, (Penguin Random House India)

I Have the Streets by R Ashwin with Sidharth Monga (Penguin Random House India)

Shah Rukh Khan by Mohar Basu (HarperCollins Publishers India)

She'll Never Make It by Masoom Minawala with Aditi Shah Bhimjyani (Juggernaut)

Mind, Body & Spirit :

Enlightenment by Sadhguru (Penguin Random House India)

Keep Moving by Milind Soman, Ankita Konwar, Usha Soman with Roopa Pai (Juggernaut)

Live While You're Alive by Shiv Khera (Bloomsbury India)

The Commonsense Diet by Rujuta Diwekar (Juggernaut)

The Satvic Revolution by Subah Saraf and Harshvardhan Saraf (Penguin Random House India)

About Crossword Book Awards:

Instituted in 1998, the Crossword Book Awards brings together the entire literary community—readers, authors, booksellers and publishers—like none other. It is the only Indian award that recognizes and rewards the finest of Indian writing in English, as selected by the Jury, and actively promotes Indian authors and their books. In addition to the Jury Awards, the eligible books are open to be voted on by readers, the results of which constitute the Popular Choice Awards.

October 2026

Your voice can reach the world: At JK Monitor, we firmly believe that every well-researched idea has the power to inspire change beyond geographical boundaries. We are delighted to share an encouraging message from one of our esteemed contributors, Dr. Rakesh Verma (J&K Forest Services). “His article, ‘When Trees Become Rights-Bearing Citizens: A Lesson from Canada for India’s Ecological Future,’ published on JK Monitor, received appreciation from La Compagnie des Papillons Bleus, the French non-profit organisation that founded and promotes the Universal Declaration of Tree Rights.”. Read the message here

A Profound Loss: JK Monitor Mourns the Passing of Founding Chairman Dr. Priya Ranjan

We at JK Monitor are profoundly saddened by the sudden demise of our Founding Chairman, Dr. Priya Ranjan. IN LOVING MEMORY Dr Priya Ranjan

A brilliant mind who studied at Netarhat Residential School and graduated in Electrical Engineering from IIT Kharagpur before earning his PhD from the University of Maryland, Dr. Ranjan chose to return to India and dedicate his life to teaching, research and social good.

His pioneering work in networked systems, AI, robotics and biomedical applications—especially computer-vision tools for early detection of cancer and heart disease—reflected his deep belief that advanced technology must serve humanity.

For more than 15 years at JK Monitor, he remained a loyal friend, mentor and collaborator, marked by rare humility, intellectual integrity and quiet generosity. His passing leaves a void that cannot be filled. Priya, you will be deeply missed. Your life continues to remind us that knowledge finds its highest purpose in the service of others.

— Team JK Monitor