Blitz Bureau
MANJULA Padmanabhan has been awarded the 2024 Sushila Devi Award for the best book of fiction writer by a woman author. Raghav Chandra, Director of the Bhopal Literature and Art Festival, said Manjula Padmanabhan will receive a cash prize of Rs 2 lakh at the festival in January 2025 in Bhopal. This year’s jury – chaired by Malashri Lal and comprising GJV Prasad and Sukrita Paul Kumar – selected Taxi by Manjula Padmanabhan as the winner.
The decision recog¬nises P a d m a n a b h a n ‘ s c o m ¬ p e l ¬ l i n g nar¬rat¬ive and explor¬a¬tion of con¬tem¬por¬ary social issues. The jury said about the book, “Manjula Padmanabhan’s Taxi eloquently addresses contemporary social challenges while keeping readers captivated through its brisk pace and nuanced storytelling. It’s a testament to the power of fiction to question and illuminate societal norms.”
Padmanabhan’s novel Taxi tells the story of Maddy Sen, a US-educated, independent-minded woman taxi driver breaking societal stereotypes. The plot takes a surprising turn when Maddy is asked to dress as a male chauffeur for a wealthy client. Through this intriguing premise, Padmanabhan delves into issues of cross-dressing, gendered public spaces, and societal assumptions about women. Maddy’s sharp interior monologues, witty humor, and gripping narrative shed light on the city’s brutality and tenderness, indifference and care, making Taxi a profound and engaging read.
The award has been instituted by the ‘Shri Ratanlal Foundation’ and is presented during the festival in Bhopal.