JK MONITOR - Crossword book awards 2025 unveils its highly-anticipated jury shortlist

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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: 30 October 2025

MUMBAI Crossword Bookstores has announced its much-awaited Jury Awards shortlist for the prestigious Crossword Book Awards 2025. This follows the longlist announcement made last month. The year's shortlist is a diverse and vibrant collection of five books per category representing the pinnacle of excellence and narrative innovation in Indian writing in English.

This year’s shortlist spans five key categories – Fiction, Non-fiction, Translations, Children’s Books, and Business & Management, with a stunning depth of quality emerging across all categories, representing the most influential and original voices that have enriched India's literary world.

Reflecting on the Jury Awards shortlist, Aakash Gupta, CEO of Crossword Bookstores, said, “The Jury Shortlist represents the books that stood out for their originality, craft and impact. Each title has been carefully chosen by our esteemed jury for its contribution to contemporary writing and its ability to move, challenge, or inspire readers. These are the stories that reflect the very best of Indian literature today.”

The shortlisted books for this year's Crossword Book Awards - Jury Awards 2025 are:

Children’s Books

The Wall Friends Clubby Varsha Seshan, illustrated by Denise Antao (HarperCollins Publishers India)
Ajay of Agumbe and the Signal Snakeby Zai Whitaker, illustrated by Rajiv Eipe (Pratham Books)
Kushti Kidby Vibha Batra (Scholastic India)
The Body in the Swimming Poolby Shabnam Minwalla (Speaking Tiger)
The Book of Emperorsby Ashwitha Jayakumar, Illustrated by Nikhil Gulati (Penguin Random House India)

Non-fiction

Golwalkarby Dhirendra K. Jha (Simon & Schuster India)
Gods, Guns and Missionariesby Manu S. Pillai (Penguin Random House)
The Lucky Onesby Zara Chowdhary (Westland Books)
Iconoclastby Anand Teltumbde (Penguin Random House India)
Lōal Kashmirby Mehak Jamal (HarperCollins Publishers India)

Translations

The Day the Earth Bloomedby Manoj Kuroor, translated from Malayalam by J. Devika (Bloomsbury India)
Mudrithaby Jissa Jose, translated from Malayalam by Jayasree Kalathil (HarperCollins Publishers India)
Our City That Yearby Geetanjali Shree, translated from Hindi by Daisy Rockwell (Penguin Random House India)
The Owl, the River and the Valleyby Arupa Patangia Kalita, translated from Assamese by Mitra Phukan (Penguin Random House India)
Unlove Storyby Sudipto Pal, translated from Bengali by Arunava Sinha (Seagull Books)

Fiction

Girls Who Strayby Anisha Lalvani (Bloomsbury India)
Rising Sonsby Kavery Nambisan (Penguin Random House India)
An Unholy Droughtby Madhulika Liddle (Speaking Tiger)
Great Eastern Hotelby Ruchir Joshi (HarperCollins Publishers India)
The Fertile Earth byRuthvika Rao(Penguin Random House India)

Business & Management

Ratan Tataby Thomas Mathew (HarperCollins Publishers India)
Just a Mercenary?by Duvvuri Subbarao (Penguin Random House India)
Behold the Leviathanby Saurabh Mukherjea & Nandita Rajhansa (Penguin Random House India)
The Dirty Dozenby N. Sundaresha Subramanian (PanMacmillan India)
Sky Highby Tarun Shukla (HarperCollins Publishers)

The literary season is reaching its climax. With the finalists now confirmed for the Jury Awards, the individual category winners will be announced on 3rd December 2025, at the official ceremony to be held at The LaLit Mumbai, where India’s top literary achievements will be celebrated.

About the Crossword Book Awards:

Instituted in 1998, the Crossword Book Awards stand among India’s most prestigious and enduring literary honors, dedicated to celebrating the country’s finest authors and stories across a wide spectrum of genres. The award endeavours to recognize the finest of Indian writing in English and actively promotes Indian authors and their books, while also fostering a culture of reading and dialogue among book lovers nationwide.

The 2024 edition spotlighted pathbreaking works across categories, showcasing both acclaimed voices and emerging talents. By celebrating established authors alongside fresh perspectives, the Awards continue to reflect the dynamism of India’s literary landscape. Over the years, the platform has become a trusted benchmark for quality writing, a champion of diverse voices, and a mirror of India’s evolving literary fabric.

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