Amish Tripathi, Amitav Ghosh, Ruskin Bond, Radhakrishnan Pillai, Twinkle Khanna win big at the 14th Raymond Crossword Book Award.

Celebrities thronged the 14th Raymond Crossword Book Award at the NCPA on the evening of 29th November.

There was the veritable Gulzar, who gave the lifetime achievement award to Ruskin Bond. There was Piyush Pandey, who was nominated for his book in the business and management category, eventually won by Chanakya author Radhakrishnan Pillai. (he joked about how he gave his students voting targets to win the award!)

There was Amish Tripathi, who won in the popular, fiction category and Twinkle Khanna, who won in the popular, non-fiction category. Ranjit Lal, that unassuming children’s author, whose work now is held as the gold standard in children’s writing.

There was Sudhir Mungatiwar, State Cabinet Minister of Finance, Planning, and Forest Departments in the Government of Maharashtra, himself a book lover, who remarked wittily, “ Raymonds dresses up your body and Crossword dresses up your mind.”

Madhu Datta of Raymonds, Chief Guest Shekhar Gupta,Payal Gidwani, Neel Raheja, shortlisted author Leena Mogre, B S Nagesh, spiritual guru Mynoo Maryel, Ravi Subramanian, Anupama Chopra, added to the charm of the evening. Social media maven Miss Malini was the host of the evening.

The night was a culmination of the ‘voting’ battle of epic proportions that has been underway, over the last month, win the coveted trophy of the Raymond Crossword Book Award, India’s oldest and most prestigious award.

Kinjal Shah, CEO Crossword Bookstores said, “The auditorium was packed this year, and Im grateful to the whole publishing industry in India comes forward as one family to recognise its own stars. This year, the award was given in ten categories and the first ever lifetime achievement award. A total of 11 awards were given away, in the following three categories.”

The evening also saw the launch of the coffee table book, The Benevolent Narmada, featuring photographs by Hari Mahidhar and script by Vithal Nadkarni. This book was originally blessed by PM Narendra Modi, during his 2014 Prime Ministerial campaign.

The final winners list for the evening, includes Amitav Ghosh, Amish,Twinkle Khanna, Shamsur Rahman Faruqi, Ranjit Lal, Sachin Tendulkar (co-athored by Boria Majumdar) Radhakrishnan Pillai, Payal Gidwani, Roopa Pai and Akshaya Mukul.

India’s finest lyricist and poet, Gulzaar Saab, who bestowed the Lifetime achievement award to beloved author Ruskin Bond was deeply moved to be part of the function. Speaking on the occasion, Gulzar Sahab said, " Bond sir and I share a deep friendship that goes a long way back. I would like to say, "Cheers" to Bond sir, for winning this award."

Detailed list for reference below.

WINNERS: POPULAR AWARD

1.Fiction
Scion of Ikshvaku by Amish wins the Raymond Crossword Book Award – popular - fiction category

2. Non-fiction
Mrs Funnybones by Twinkle Khanna wins the Raymond Crossword Book Award - popular award – nonfiction category

3. Biography
Playing It My Way by Sachin Tendulkar (co-author Boria Majumdar) wins the Raymond Crossword Book Award - popular award for best biography

4. Business and management
Chanakya in You by Radhakrishnan Pillai wins the Raymond Crossword Book Award - popular award in Business and Management category

5. Health and fitness
Body Goddess by Payal Gidwani wins the Raymond Crossword Book Award - popular award in health and wellness category

6. Children
Gita: For Children by Roopa Pai wins the Raymond Crossword Book Award - popular award for Children’s writing

WINNERS: JURY
7. Fiction
Flood of Fire by Amitav Ghosh wins the Raymond Crossword Book Award - jury award for fiction

8.Non-fiction
Gita Press and the Making of Hindu India by Akshaya Mukul wins the Raymond Crossword Book Award - jury award for best non-fiction

9.Translation
The Sun That Rose From the Earth by Shamsur Rahman Faruqi is the Raymond Crossword Book Award - jury winner for the best translated book

10.Children
Our Nana was a Nutcase by Ranjit Lal wins the Raymond Crossword Book Award - jury award for the best book for children’s writing