JMI professor's novel 'The Paradise of Food' shortlisted for JCB Prize for Literature 2022

NEW DELHI: The English translation of the novel 'Namat Khana' also known as 'The Paradise of Food' by contemporary fiction writer Khalid Javed from the department of Urdu, Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) has been included in the five shortlisted novels selected from all the Indian languages for 'JCB award for literature 2022'.

Within in the walls of a kitchen, 'The Paradise of Food' is a story of a middle-class Muslim family with themes including hunger, violence, love, guilt, and confession. Javed has also been awarded with multiple awards by literary institutions across the country.

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Khalid Javed's three novels 'Maut Ki Kitab', 'Namat Khana' and 'Ek Khanjar Pani Mein' have bare well-known and while he plans on releasing his fourth novel 'Arsalan Aur Behzad' soon. His novel 'Maut Ki Kitab' was translated as the 'Book of Death' by A Naseeb Khan.

The 'Namat Khana' was translated into English as 'The Paradise of Food' by Baran Farooqui. The JCB award winner gets prize money of Rs 25 lakh while the translator gets Rs 10 lakh separately. In addition to this, all five authors whose novels have been included in the list will get Rs 1 lakh each.

JMI vice-chancellor, Najma Akhtar said that this as a proud moment for the university. She also gives her well wishes and anticipates the selection of the novel for the award.

Recently, 12 Jamia Millia University research scholars were awarded with the Prime Minister Research Fellowship. The students will get a fellowship of Rs 70,000 for the first two years, Rs 75,000 for third year, Rs 80,000 for the fourth and fifth year.