PM congratulates Pakistani writer Bilal Tanweer for Shakti Bhatt award

Pakistani writer Bilal Tanweer, who was on Tuesday conferred the 2014 Shakti Bhatt First Book Prize for his novel The Scatter Here Is Too Great, was congratulated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The award ceremony was held at the Max Mueller Bhavan, New Delhi, on Tuesday evening.

In his letter, Prime Minister Modi said, ‘I convey my best wishes to the recipient of the Shakti Bhatt First Book Prize-2014.’

In its seventh year, the award has seen its prize money raised to Rs 2 lakh, thanks to support from Priti Paul and the Apeejay Trust.

The judges for 2014 were authors Amit Chaudhuri, Aatish Taseer and Mridula Koshy (2009 winner of the Shakti Bhatt First Book Prize).

The Shakti Bhatt First Book Prize is an award named after journalist Shakti Bhatt, who passed away in 2007.

Commending the effort, Modi said in his letter, ‘I am happy to know that the Shakti Bhatt Foundation has been engaged in the activity of discovering and honouring literary talents.’

The Lahore-based Tanweer, born and raised in Karachi, has published fiction, poetry and translation in various international journals. He accepted the award via skype, image, left.