Goncourt Choice of India returns: PU students, among others, to judge French novels

The Goncourt Choice of India (Choix Goncourt de l’Inde) is returning for its fifth edition, bringing together students, teachers, and literature enthusiasts from across the country to celebrate contemporary French fiction. The initiative aims at strengthening cultural exchange and building a bridge between Indian readers and French authors.

In this 5th edition, students of French from nine Indian universities: The English and Foreign Languages University, Pondicherry University, University of Mumbai, Savitribai Phule Pune University, University of Delhi, Jawaharlal Nehru University, University of Rajasthan, Banaras Hindu University, and, for the first time, Panjab University in Chandigarh, form the jury alongside members of the Alliance Française network. Over five months, they will read and debate the four shortlisted novels for France’s most prestigious literary distinction, the Prix Goncourt, guided by their teachers and French Institute in India (IFI)-facilitated seminars.

Shortlisted titles for the 2025 edition:

‘La Nuit au Cœur’ (Night at Heart, published by Gallimard), by Nathacha Appanah

‘Kolkhoze’ (Kolkhoze, published by POL) by Emmanuel Carrère

‘Le Bel Obscur’ (The Beautiful Darkness, published by Seuil) by Caroline Lamarche

‘La Maison Vide’ (The Empty House, published by Minuit) by Laurent Mauvignier

The Prix Goncourt was instituted in 1862 by brothers Edmond and Jules de Goncourt. Initially conceived as a lifetime stipend for emerging authors, it has evolved into France’s most prestigious literary award. Today, the winner receives a symbolic 10-euro cheque but sells hundreds of thousands of copies, making it one of the most influential prizes in the francophone world.

The winner of the 2025 Choix Goncourt de l’Inde will be announced in March at a special ceremony at the Residence of the French Ambassador in New Delhi, in the presence of representatives from the French Embassy, IFI, and Apeejay Trust, which is supporting the event conceived by the Académie Goncourt and coordinated by IFI and the Embassy of France in India.

Under the new partnership with Apeejay Trust, the program will expand through additional activities. Alongside the university-led literary prize and seminars, an open translation contest will be launched in March, inviting aspiring translators to submit their interpretation of excerpts from previous Goncourt-winning novels. The winning translator will receive a publication contract supported by IFI and Apeejay, further strengthening Indo-French collaboration in literature and translation.

Grégor Trumel, Counsellor for Cooperation and Cultural Affairs, Embassy of France, and director of the French Institute in India, said: “Thanks to Apeejay’s generous support, the French Institute in India can now launch an open translation contest, offering professional translators a platform to showcase their talent and supporting an Indian publisher in bringing the winning translation to life. Reading good books nourishes the soul and helps one better understand the world and others. And literature is, above all, one of life's great pleasures!”

Priti Paul, director of Apeejay Surrendra Group, said: “Our support for the Choix Goncourt de l’Inde is not merely a philanthropic gesture; it is a foundational investment in the future of Indo-French literary dialogue.”