Manjula Padmanabhan has been awarded the 2024 Sushila Devi Award by the Bhopal Literature and Art Festival. This prestigious award, which honors the best book of fiction by a woman author, comes with a cash prize of Rs 2 lakh and will be presented at the festival in January 2025.
The jury, chaired by Malashri Lal and comprising GJV Prasad and Sukrita Paul Kumar, selected Padmanabhan’s novel “Taxi” as the winner. The story follows Maddy Sen, an independent, US-educated woman taxi driver, who challenges societal stereotypes. The plot takes a turn when Maddy is asked to dress as a male chauffeur for a wealthy client, leading Padmanabhan to explore themes of cross-dressing, gendered public spaces, and societal assumptions about women.
The jury praised Taxi, calling it a compelling narrative that addresses contemporary social challenges while maintaining a brisk pace and offering nuanced storytelling. They described the novel as a powerful example of how fiction can question and shed light on societal norms.
The Bhopal Literature and Art Festival will take place from January 31 to February 2, 2025.
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