The 12th edition of the Publishing Next Industry Awards took place at New Delhi’s India International Centre on 12 January 2025. Established in 2014, the awards focus on publishing and its allied functions, and reward publishing professionals, including editors, cover designers, and illustrators, for the roles they play in developing books.
The Publishing Next Industry Awards in 11 categories are as follows:
Publisher of the Year: Pan Macmillan India
The jury said Pan Macmillan India stood out for “masterfully balancing an ambitious, award-winning list with commercial success, and for defining excellence through design innovation, standout debuts, and thoughtful, community-driven engagement that consistently elevates the standards of contemporary publishing.”
Publisher of the Year Runner Up: Yoda Press
Editor of the Year: Lokesh Malti Prakash (endorsed by Eklavya Foundation)
Lokesh Malti Prakash won for “his visionary editorial leadership, blending meticulous organization with deep empathy to champion inclusive voices, ethical processes, and innovative formats, while building a diverse, collaborative list that elevates both the craft and culture of publishing.”
Editor of the Year Runner Up: Seema (endorsed by Eklavya Foundation)
Illustrator of the Year: Rajiv Eipe (endorsed by HarperCollins India)
Rajiv Eipe won for “his distinctive, joyful artistry, using brilliant light, color, and imaginative detail to create immersive spreads that captivate readers, blending technical mastery of composition with a unique, humorous voice that brings every scene to life.”
Illustrator of the Year Runner Up: Ogin Nayam (endorsed by Pratham Books)
Book Cover of the Year (Children’s Books): Kempi, cover designed by Richa Shubhangi, published by Awwa Pustaka
According to the judges, Richa Shubhangi was awarded for “its bold, interactive mask-design, using a vivid red palette and clever die-cuts to transform a children’s book into a joyful experience; its soft acrylic textures and elegant layout set a new standard for Indian-language publishing.”
Book Cover of the Year (Children’s Books) Runner Up: Baloo’s Big Win: How Palwankar Baloo Broke the Caste Barrier in Cricket, cover designed by Samar Bansal, published by Puffin, an imprint of Penguin Random House India
Book Cover of the Year (Indian Languages): On Merleau-Ponty, cover designed by Trinankur Banerjee, published by Jadavpur University Press
Trinankur Banerjee was awarded for “its sophisticated cubist design, blending historical homage with approachable wit. By balancing restrained typography and playful, puppet-like character movements, it transforms complex philosophy into an eye-catching, accessible, and perfectly paced visual experience for new readers.”
Book Cover of the Year (Indian Languages) Runner Up: Phans, cover designed by Shiraz Hussain, published by Rajkamal Prakashan
Book Cover of the Year (English): Bird Milk and Mosquito Bones, designed by Aakriti Khurana, published by Penguin Random House India, and Maria, Just Maria, cover designed by Aashim Raj, published by HarperCollins India
The cover of Bird Milk and Mosquito Bones: A Memoir by Priyanka Mattoo was awarded for “its tactile, layered brilliance, reimagining the physical book as a vibrant garden; by blending William Morris-inspired motifs with innovative multi-paper production and stitch lines, it creates a whimsical, boundary-pushing object that rewards every touch.”
The cover of Maria, Just Maria was awarded for “for its masterfully layered, modular design, using a warm mosaic of graphic panels and sophisticated color-blocking to map Maria’s fragmented world; it is a human, tender invitation that perfectly balances vibrant, contemporary trends with legible, cohesive storytelling.”
Book Cover of the Year (English) Runner Up: The Many Lives of Pauloma Chattopadhyay, cover designed by Amit Malhotra, published by Niyogi Books
Printed Book of the Year (Children’s, Ages 0-8): Nila Nila, written and composed by Gurupriya Atreya and Vedanth Bharadwaj, illustrated by Vaishnavi Giri and published by T4tales
According to the jury, Nila Nila was recognized for “its innovative, multi-sensory approach to regional rhymes, using tactility and scent to create an inclusive, accessible experience; it masterfully bridges the gap between traditional Tamil oral culture and interactive, high-quality physical storytelling.”
Printed Book of the Year (Children’s, Ages 0-8) Runner Up: Go Go Flamingo, by Devashish Makhija, illustrated by Priya Kuriyan, published by Tulika Publishers
Printed Book of the Year (Children’s, Ages 8+): Master of the 7 Swars by Pratyush Gupta, published by Roli Books
According to the judges, Master of the 7 Swars was recognized for “its ambitious, genre-bending production that transforms Indian classical music into a multi-sensory adventure; through masterful pop-up engineering and light-reactive shadows, it pioneers a new standard for interactive, high-fidelity storytelling in children’s literature.”
Printed Book of the Year (Children’s, Ages 8+) Runner Up: Kya, Hai Kya Ye, written and illustrated by Rohan Chakravarty, designed by Kanak Shashi, published by Eklavya Foundation
Printed Book of the Year (Art, Illustration, and Photography): Theyyam: Indian Folk Ritual Theatre – An Insider’s Vision, by K K Gopalakrishnan, published by Niyogi Books
Theyyam: Indian Folk Ritual Theatre – An Insider’s Vision was recognized for “its visually arresting, high-production documentation of Theyyam; through fantastic photography and ethnographic precision, it transforms a complex living tradition into a premium, collectible masterpiece that honors India’s cultural heritage with profound beauty and honesty.”
Printed Book of the Year (Art, Illustration, and Photography) Runner Up: Food & Farming: A Journey Through India in Comics by Orijit Sen, Vidyun Sabhaney, Harsho Mohan Chattoraj, published by Leftword Books
Printed Book of the Year (Indian Languages): Gungunaiye, by Gulzar, published by Radhakrishna Prakashan
According to the jury, Gungunaiye was recognized for “its gorgeous, high-impact design and meticulous attention to detail; from the stunning endpapers and creative section dividers to the vibrant page layouts, it offers a fabulously cohesive and appealing presentation of superior bookmaking.”
Printed Book of the Year (Indian Languages) Runner Up: Bhojan aur Pachan, by Anu Gupta, illustrated by Karen Haydock, designed by Kanak Shashi, published by Eklavya Foundation
Printed Book of the Year (English): Our Potpourri Planet, by Ranjit Lal, published by HarperCollins India
Our Potpourri Planet was recognized for “defining a new standard in environmental literature; by merging the author’s wry, expert storytelling with exquisite pointillist illustrations and accessible design, the book creates a vibrant, affordable, and essential call to ecological action for all generations.”
Printed Book of the Year (English) Runner Up: Gods, Guns and Missionaries: The Making of the Modern Hindu Identity, by Manu S Pillai, published by Penguin Random House India
The presentation was preceded by a keynote address by Gaëlle Bohé, and a panel discussion titled Five Years On: Mapping the New Terrain of Indian Publishing, which examined how the publishing industry has evolved since the pandemic and explored how the shifts of the last few years are redefining the future of books in India.
According to Leonard J Fernandes from Publishing Next, the 12th category Bookshop of the Year could not be given out for a lack of nominations. Bookstores are requested to submit nominations in the category once the registration for the 13th edition of the awards opens.
