The Romain Rolland Book Prize was created in 2017 with the aim of awarding the best translation of a French title (francophone area) into any Indian language, including English. The Indo-French jury takes into account the quality of the translation and of the publication itself. The prize aims at encouraging and rewarding the efforts made by Indian translators and Indian publishers to bring the best of Francophone literature and thought, in all its diversity, to the Indian readership. It is supported by Priti Paul via Apeejay Trust.

The winning publisher and the translator are awarded a curated trip to France for their professional exchanges. The jury is chaired by the French Institute in India / Embassy of France in India. The eminent jury is composed of professors from different universities in France and India, and literary translators from both countries to assess the quality of the translation.

Participate

The Romain Rolland Book Prize for Translation, launched in 2017, aims to reward excellence in translation from French into Indian vernacular languages, including English. Any work translated directly from French into the target language (excluding academic works and children’s books of fewer than 10,000 characters) by a translator of Indian nationality and published between January 2023 and July 2024 is eligible for the prize. Please note that translations by members of the jury will not be eligible.

  • A publishing house can submit up to two titles or one series at most.
  • Submit your applications online by 31st October 2024.
  • The winners will be announced in the beginning of 2025 at a literary festival or book fair.
  • The winning translator and publisher will be invited to France for a professional exchange supported by the French Institute / Embassy of France in India.
Apply now

Winners

Title: Divan Staliner (Le Divan de Staline / Stalin’s Couch)
Translator: Pankaj Kumar Chatterjee
Author: Jean-Daniel Baltassat
Indian publisher: New Bharat Sahitya Kutir
Language: Bengali

The 6th edition of the Romain Rolland Book Prize did not have a winner.

Title: Meursault, contre- enquête” (The Meursault Investigation)
Translator: Trinanjan Chakraborty
Author: Kamel Daoud
Indian publisher: Patra Bharati
Language: Bengali

Title: Le mariage de plaisir
Author: Tahar BEN JELLOUN
Indian publisher: Thadagam
Language: Tamil
Translator: S. A. Vengada Soupraya Nayagar

Title: Astérix comics
Author: Albert Uderzo, René Goscinny
Indian publisher: Om books International
Language: Hindi
Translator: Dipa Chaudhuri & Puneet Gupta

Title: La vie d’un homme inconnu
Author: Andrei Makine
Indian publisher: Kalachuvadu Publication
Language: Tamil
Translator: S.R. Kichenamourty

Title: Rue des boutiques obscures
Author: Patrick Modiano
Indian publisher: Rajpal and Sons
Language: Hindi
Translator: Monica Singh