Mumbai-based writer Meghna Pant bagged the 2016 FON South Asia Short Story Award on Nature Writing for her story People of the Sun. FON Award is an initiative of the Kumaon Literary Festival, in partnership with the French Institute of India and Wildlife Trust of India, to revive nature writing and through this form of literature bring the spotlight on critical environment issues. It is the first of its kind of literary award focusing on the pressing issue of climate change.
“Nature writing was once considered to be the rock and roll of literature. In the last few decades, it has shown a steady decline. Like all extinctions, nature writing’s gradual disappearance represents a profound loss. FON is our little effort to revive this art,” said Sumant Batra, the founder of the Kumaon Literary Festival.
Asha Batra, the Founder of FON Award said, “writing about the close relationship between humankind and nature plays an important role in creating interest and building respect for it amongst book lovers and others. There is a pressing need to restore this literary art”.
The winner of the FON Award was selected by an eminent international jury comprising of Jerry Pinto, Sidhartha Gigoo, Mridula Koshy and Shinie Antony from India, James Champion from the UK, Samrat Upadhyay from USA and Afia Aslam from Pakistan.
The winner will be awarded a cash prize of rupees one lakh at an event to be hosted in New Delhi by the French Ambassador in October.
Sujata Parashar, Director of FON added, “We received over 165 entries from South Asian countries. Some stories were of very high standard. We will soon be publishing an anthology of top few stories.
The first runner is Shabir Ahmad Mir from J&K and the second runner up is Vrinda Baliga from Hyderabad. Short stories of Richa Bhattari from Nepal and Amal Singh from Gaziabad made it to the FON shortlist of 5 top stories.
About Fellows of Nature (FON) a community of nature writers:
Nature writing was once considered to be the rock and roll of literature. In the last few decades it has shown a steady decline. Like all extinctions, nature writing’s gradual disappearance represents a profound loss. Writing in this category is born out of love, respect, and awe of nature. It finds its subject during days of close observation of the beauty of the natural world. Writing about the close relationship between humankind and nature plays an important role in creating interest and building respect for it amongst book lovers and others. There is a pressing need to restore this literary art. The best way to do it is through stories.
Fellows of Nature (FON) has been founded to build a community of nature writers and revive interest in nature writing and reading, and through this form of literature, build awareness and develop respect for nature, and eventually help in conservation. The initiatives of Fellows of Nature will help put the spotlight on critical environment issues through literature.
Fellows of Nature have initiated an International Short Story Contest on nature writing. The winner will be presented the FON South Asia Short Story Award, in collaboration with Kumaon Literary Festival. A fine Collection of Short Stories on nature will be selected from the contest to be published as a book that will be released at the Taj Colloquium.