The seventh season of AutHer Awards, presented by JK Paper in association with The Times of India, brought together voices of change

Women’s writing extends beyond creative expression and acts as a powerful force of identity, resistance, and change. With the perennial challenges of patriarchy around, it is imperative to bring forth stories that challenge norms, inspire dialogue, and reflect the richness of women’s lived experiences. JK Paper, in association with The Times of India, hosted the seventh season of AutHer Awards, honouring women who give voice to literary masterpieces. AutHer Awards empower the creativity of women authors in a world that has historically suppressed the female voice. The event witnessed over 3,000 entries this year, testifying to its commitment to recognising, celebrating, and amplifying women’s voices across diverse literary genres. Over seven seasons, AutHer Awards has received over 12,000 entries. Reiterating the novelty of female expression, Jaya Bhattacharji Rose, literary director, AutHer Awards, said in the inaugural address, “From oral traditions whispered across generations to novels that challenge power structures, women writers have shaped how we see the world. Yet, for centuries, their voices have been minimised, diminished, or forced into the margins. But, despite these barriers, they have persisted. They write under pseudonyms, between household duties, before and after their professional commitments, in early hours of the morning or in stolen hours of the night.”The chief guest, actor, and author Kabir Bedi, further emphasised the importance of coming up with platforms to empower women. He said, “I salute the AutHer Awards for creating a platform that not only celebrates storytelling but also honours the voices of women who deserve to be heard. Today, we are not just recognising their work, we are acknowledging their impact. Awards like these tell the writers that their stories still matter, that someone is listening, that their words have the power to inspire, provoke thoughts, and bring about change.” Further, Harsh Pati Singhania, chairman and managing director, JK Paper, said, “Tonight, we celebrate women whose stories move hearts, challenge perspectives, and at times change the directions of the conversations of the society.” He added, “Over time, today’s event has evolved into much more than an award ceremony. Today, the AutHer Awards have become a year-round engagement with interactive author conversations in schools and colleges, and a growing podcast series that brings literature to audiences across platforms.” Partha Biswas, chief, sales and marketing, shared, “Paper remains a powerful medium for expression, and through AutHer Awards, women authors are empowered to share impactful stories that inspire change.” The award ceremony also featured a fireside chat between authors Velly Thevar and S Hussain Zaidi, moderated by Jaya Bhattacharji Rose. The discussion brought about interesting insights into the co-authoring experience of the non-fiction crime book Mafia Queens of India, which came out last year. Thoughtful choices are shaped by the rigour and insight of those with deep experience. The jury’s dedication and meticulous evaluation ensured that the most deserving voices stood out from a vast pool of entries. The AutHer Awards 2026 jury brought together some of the most respected names in the literary world. “AutHer Awards has become a credible platform, with the Manuscript category spotlighting young storytellers and their impact. This year’s 14-year-old winner is a powerful testament to that,” added Debasish Ganguly, head, marketing and communications. The winning manuscripts are published by JK Paper in collaboration with Readomania. Preeti Shenoy, Forbes-listed author and columnist; Soha Ali Khan, actor, author, producer, and the face of AutHer Awards Season 7; and Vasudhendra, Kannada writer, constituted the jury for the Debut category. Kiran Manral, author, journalist, podcaster, and curator; Manju Kapur, author, Commonwealth Writers' Prize winner; and Sudeep Nagarkar, author and Forbes India Celebrity longlistee, served on the jury for the Fiction category. Dr Radha Kumar, historian, author on democracy and feminism, and former Jammu and Kashmir interlocutor; Amrita Shah, former editor of Elle and Debonair, and award-winning author; and Ravikant Kisana, author, academic, podcaster, and performer, were the panellists for the Non-fiction category. The jury for children’s literature comprised Zai Whitaker, conservationist, and author; Nina Sabnani, animator, illustrator, and winner of the Big Little Book Award; and Neil D’Silva, pioneer of Indian folklore horror, former Bram Stoker Awards Jury Chair, TEDx speaker, and co-founder of Litventure. “Literary craft is important, and a good story has to be important, but the story must continue after the last page of the book,” said Soha Ali Khan, during the interactive session conducted with the jury members. Urmila Pawar was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award for her extraordinary contribution to the industry. Addressing the audience, she said, “I would like to thank all the women who inspired me, especially Maitreyi Pawar, who translated my Marathi literature into English and Anita Bharti, who translated them into Hindi. On this occasion, I am happy to say that in the early days of Dalit literature, there were very few women writers alongside me, but today their number has grown significantly.”The event concluded with a vote of thanks from president and director A S Mehta. He said, “Numerous entries, rewarding books, written by talented writers, and the jury’s thoughtful evaluation and dedication ensure that the AutHer Awards continue to hold the highest literacy standards.”WinnersLifetime Achievement Urmila PawarBest Author FictionKavery Nambisan for Rising Sons (Penguin Random House India)Best Author Non-FictionVidya Rajan for Rubber (Westland Books)Narayani Basu for A Man For All Seasons (Westland Books)Best Author DebutSwati Pandey for Invisible in Plain Sight: Voices from the By-Lanes of Kamathipura (Juggernaut Books)Subi Taba for Tales from the Dawn-Lit Mountains (Penguin Random House India)Best Author Children’s LiteratureLikla Lall for Ganesh Haloi: Colours of Home (Art1st & KNMA)Best Manuscript WinnerSaanvi Shabeesh for City of DoomRunner-upPrachi Digamber Bhusare for The Unknown Rescue- Himanshi.Duseja@timesofindia.com Disclaimer: This article has been produced on behalf of JK Paper by Times Internet’s Spotlight team.