Noted Hindi poet and writer Vinod Kumar Shukla’s ‘Blue is Like Blue’ has been selected for the first Mathrubhumi Book of the Year Award.

The award, given to the best fiction released in the previous year, carries a purse of Rs 5 lakh, a plaque designed by Riyas Komu and a certificate. 

The book was selected by a jury panel including Dr Shashi Tharoor, Chandrashekhara Kambara and Dr Sumana Roy. 

Recognized as one of India’s leading writers with a unique style, stories in ‘Blue Is Like Blue’ deal with ‘smaller-than-life people’ who struggle to make ends meet.  

Shukla, who keeps his distance from established order both in his writing and life has been sidelined in the world of Hindi literature. Had he been a European, Shukla would have been a world renowned writer now, said Sumana Roy while declaring the award.

The award will be presented to Shukla by Margaret Busby, jury member of the Booker Prize, on Friday at 5 pm during a grand event scheduled at Mathrubhumi International Festival of Letters 2020 (MBIFL 2020).