‘Ret Samadhi’ becomes the first Hindi novel to bag Booker prize

Team L&M

Renowned Novelist Geetanjali Shree’s novel Ret-Samadhi published by Rajkamal Prakashan has been selected for the International Booker Prize 2022. This is the first Booker Prize for a Hindi Novel. The translation of Ret-Samadhi in English Tomb of Sand by Daisy Rockwell has been selected for this award.

Geetanjali Shree in her award acceptance speech said, “This is a bolt from the blue, but what a nice one and I am still reeling. I never dreamt of the Booker and I never thought I could. What a huge recognition. I am amazed, delighted, honoured, and humbled. I want to start by thanking the Booker foundation and Booker jury for choosing this book. There is a melancholy satisfaction in the award going to it. Ret-Samadhi Tomb of Sand is the eulogy for the world we inhabit, a laughing eulogy that retains hope in the face of impending doom. The Booker will surely take it to many more people than it would have done otherwise.”

Ret Samadhi (Tomb of Sand) wins International Booker Prize 2022

She further said, “Ever since the book got longlisted much has been written about Hindi making it for the first time. It feels good to be the means of that happening but it also obliges me to emphasise that behind me and this book lies a rich and flourishing literary tradition in Hindi and in other South Asian languages. World literature will be richer for knowing some of the finest writers in these languages. The vocabulary of life will increase from such an interaction. I thank my Hindi publisher Ashok Maheshwari for bringing this book out and equally my English publisher. She thanked Daisy Rockwell for the English incarnation for making it accessible for everyone

Ashok Maheshwari, Managing Director, Rajkamal Publications said that being selected for the International Booker Prize for Ret-Samadhi establishes that the excellent writing in Hindi and other Indian languages is rapidly attracting the attention of a global audience.