Shalini Mullick Wins IGF Archer-Amish Award for 'The Way Home'

London, June 19 (PTI) — The UK’s Culture Secretary, Lisa Nandy, awarded the inaugural USD 25,000 IGF Archer-Amish Award for Storytellers to doctor-author Shalini Mullick for her novel "The Way Home." The award, named after bestselling authors Lord Jeffrey Archer and Amish Tripathi, recognizes Mullick's compelling narrative about three millennials seeking refuge in Goa as they confront personal challenges related to grief, identity, and healing.

During the presentation at the India Global Forum (IGF) UK-India Week in London, Nandy highlighted the cultural significance of the award, reflecting on the shared connections between India and the UK.

“People-to-people connections are incredibly important for us,” she stated. Nandy, a British Indian and Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, emphasized a shared commitment by PM Narendra Modi and PM Keir Starmer to overcome global division and polarization.

Expressing her gratitude, Mullick, who balances her writing with a demanding medical career, remarked, “For an author, I am absolutely speechless. I’m thrilled, overwhelmed and extremely humbled.” She explained that the award will provide her the opportunity to dedicate more time to her writing.

The Archer-Amish Award for Storytellers, launched at the IGF summit last year, aims to celebrate contemporary Indian fiction that reflects the rich tapestry of modern India. With sponsorship from land developer The House of Abhinandan Lodha, the award aims to underscore the influence of culture on global discourse and promote bilateral ties.

”At the heart of every great idea is a story,” noted IGF founder and chairman Manoj Ladwa. “The IGF Archer-Amish Award seeks to showcase Indian narratives on a global stage, recognizing literature as a transformative force.”

Renowned English novelist Jeffrey Archer emphasized the importance of the award: “It celebrates the power of storytellers.” He challenged, “Count the number of Nobel Prize winners you know and have read about. It’s the storytellers that people read.”

Amish Tripathi, author of "The Shiva Trilogy" and "Ram Chandra Series," added, “The job of a storyteller is to grab attention and not let it fade.”

Mullick's novel was selected from a strong pool of finalists, which included Nitya Neelakanthan’s "Navapashanam – The Quest for the Nine Magical Poisons" and Yogesh Pandey’s "The Kill Switch."