3 shortlisted for Dhahan Literary Prize

Three authors from India and Pakistan have been announced as finalists of the internationally renowned Dhahan Sahitya Inam, 2024, worth 51,000 Canadian dollars.

Barjinder Singh Dhahan, founder of the award, said this year’s finalists are: Jungal Rakhe Jag De by Shahzad Aslam (Lahore, Pakistan), Safety Kit by Jinder (Jalandhar, India) and Taboo by Surinder Neer (Jammu, India).

One of these story collections will receive a prize of 25,000 Canadian dollars and the other two will be awarded 10,000 Canadian dollars each. The honour will be conferred at a special ceremony on November 14 at the Northview Golf and Country Club in Surrey, British Columbia. On the occasion, an award of 6,000 Canadian dollars will also be presented for the transcription of the winning books into Gurmukhi or Shahmukhi.

The award, which began from Canada in 2013, is aimed at honouring the luminaries extending stellar service to the cause of Punjabi literature. It stands out for being a literary award initiated by an Indian for the Punjabi diaspora.