the bombay review creative writing awards

Parvathi Nayar

Writer | Poet | Correspondent

Parvathi has a parallel career as a writer, and has written extensively as an arts correspondent for newspapers and magazines in India, Singapore and Indonesia. Writing literally hundreds of pieces, her works have included features, reviews and commentaries on contemporary art and culture for such publications as The Business Times Singapore (where she was Senior Arts Correspondent for several years, and editor of several arts magazines released by the paper), and other prestigious publications such as The Hindu and National Geographi c.

Parvathi’s creative writing includes poetry and fiction. Parvathi’s fiction writing has been picked for The Best Asian Short Stories 2021 by Kitaab; and shortlisted for The Bombay Review Creative Writing Award 2021. The cover design for 15 Tables at TranQuebar a novel of interlinked short stories that she has co-authored with four other writers has been released in Chennai. She is currently working on a novel of conceptually-connected stories.

Parvathi likes intersections of art and text, and has experimented with the photopoetic form. Parvathi’s poem features in The Yearbook of Indian Poetry 2021 , her photopoetry series was showcased at HELD: The Lockdown in Images and Words , presented by the Goethe Institut Chennai (2020). Parvathi’s poetry is often closely tied with her art as complementary pieces: her solo The Ambiguity of Landscapes (Chennai, 2014) had a central installation around her poem Mappings-In a Fragmented City ; an extract from the poem Two Colours was published by International Gallerie (Vol16 No1, 2013); the poem, Black and White was part of the installation and catalogue accompanying her solo Drawing is a Verb (Singapore, 2006). She has presented An Evening of Indian Poetry at the Asian Civilizations Museum (Singapore, 2006).

Selected Writing Achievements

‘Rattrap’ selected for the anthology The Best Asian Short Stories (TBAS2021) by Singapore-based journal Kitaab - Asian Print anthology

Yearbook of Indian Poetry in English, Edited by Sukrita Paul Kumar and Vinita Agrawal, printed by Hakawal Publishers features the poem ‘Not His Fault’ - India Print anthology

Short story ‘Play of Shadows’ published on Amazon International

Shortlisted for Creative Writing Fiction Prize by The Bombay Review (Mumbai, New York) India

Essay “Reimagined River”, Embrace Our Rivers published by Kerber Cupture & Speaking Tiger 1994-present Freelance arts/cultural commentator and writer.

Interviewed international creative talents such as filmmaker Mira Nair, artist Mariko Mori, architect Rem Koolhaas, Guggenheim director Thomas Krens; covered international arts events such as the Venice Biennale 2005.

Written for such publications as National Geographic, The Hindu, The Week

The Bombay Review

South Asia's Biggest Literary Magazine - Estd 2014 | New York/Mumbai

The Travel Writing Masterclass - Art and Craft

The Zadie Smith Essay - New Yorker

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An MFA in Creative Writing Masterclass - The A to Z

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Lounge Interview: Parvathi Nayar (Visual Artist, Writer & Poet)

Team Kitaab is in conversation with Parvathi Nayar, a multidisciplinary visual artist, writer and poet whose work is a part of the The Best Asian Short Stories – 2021 (Kitaab, 2021)

Parvathi Nayar is a multidisciplinary visual artist, writer and poet based in Chennai, South India. Her complex drawings, videos, photography and installations have been presented at venues such as the Kochi-Muziris Biennale, Mumbai International Airport and Singapore Art Museum. Water, the environment and sustainability are through-threads in her work.

A TEDx speaker, her talks include ‘Seeing the World through Different Lenses’. As a writer she wears multiple hats: poet (photopoetry presented at HELD by Goethe Institut Chennai, featured in Yearbook of Indian Poetry in English 2020-21 ); arts writer for publications such as National Geographic, The Hindu, The Jakarta Post and The Business Times, Singapore; fiction writer (shortlisted in 2021 for The Bombay Review ’s Creative Writing Awards Fiction). She is currently working on a novel of conceptually-linked stories.

Her story ‘The Rattrap’ is a part of TBASS 2021 (Kitaab, 2021)

More Stories

“Representation is at the core of my writing.” – Aparna Upadhyaya Sanyal

“It is difficult to write fiction which turns its gaze away from the planet and continues with the self-conscious navel-gazing of modernist writing.”- Rajat Chaudhuri (Author -Spellcasters)

“One doesn’t always write only to be published.”- Naveen Kishore (Poet, Artist, Publisher, and Writer)

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People & Principles

The Bombay Literary Magazine ‘s mission is to promote writers through their fine work. We are also interested in nonfiction that looks at literature from a “writerly” perspective. We publish stories, poems, essays, reviews, visual narratives and graphic fiction.

Our people are mostly located in India, and hence our content has a certain South-Asian orientation. However, this is only an accident of geography. As our archives spanning 10 years and 57 issues and 300,000+ words will prove, we welcome writers from all over the world.

We love literature, but this love is not— at least we try to ensure it is not— a blind love. We like to mull over how something is written, and not get unbuttoned simply by what it is about, or why it was written, or who wrote it, or to which genre it belongs. Of course, we all know that style cannot be so neatly unzipped from content, yes, this we all know, of course, of course. Unpacking this “of course” is of great interest to us.

What does “Bombay” have to do with literature? Glad you asked this question. We could yammer endlessly about the spirit of Bombay, its Gully Boy ambitions, colonial hangovers, and how in a country obsessed with origins, it welcomes all, regardless of origin, and how the city is sone chandi ki dagariya tu dekh babua et cetera, et cetera. But basically, like all great literature, any great city is both universal and particular at the same time. Makes no sense? Good. We have something in common then.

It is an old truism in writing that a sufficiently long ramble eventually contradicts itself. We will reserve that delightful mode of self-discovery for a later conversation. Welcome to The Bombay Literary Magazine .

Subscribe to TBLM’s substack Crow & Colophon  for updates and notes of a literary persuasion

Benoit Mandelbrot, who gave us the theory of fractals, began his book with the remark: “Clouds are not spheres, mountains are not cones, coastlines are not circles and… nor does lightning travel in a straight line.” Ditto for organisations. Organisations are not triangles and pyramids. The layout below is organised around various teams, and within each team, the order in which people joined The Bombay Literary Magazine .

Founder, Editor (Fiction & Translated Fiction)

Editor-in-Chief

POETRY TEAM

Poetry editor.

Associate Poetry Editor

SONI SOMARAJAN is a content consultant and copywriter by profession. His poetry has appeared in The Bombay Literary Magazine , The Four Quarters Magazine , The Bangalore Review , Madras Courier , and The Alipore Post , and has been anthologised in the Yearbook of Indian Poetry in English 2020 & 2022 ; Open Your Eyes: A Climate Anthology (2022); and Scent of Rain: Remembering Jayanta Mahapatra ( 2024 ) . An alumnus of the University of Iowa IWP Advanced Poetry Seminar 2013, he has read poetry at the Hay Festival Thiruvananthapuram (2010), Bengaluru Poetry Festival (2022), and Mathrubhumi International Festival of Letters (2024). Previously the Creative Director at The Quarantine Train, Soni Somarajan was also the Associate Editor (Poetry) at Yavanika Press. First Contact (Red River, 2020) is his debut book of poetry.

READERS (POETRY TEAM)

lives in Kozhikode. Her work has been featured in The Bombay Literary Magazine ,  Muse India , and  nether Quarterly , among others. She was a 2023 South Asia Speaks Fellow, and won the 2024 Toto Funds the Arts Award for Creative Writing in English.

presently writes and reads from New Delhi where he studies Literary Arts and Creative Writing at Ambedkar University Delhi. His creative works have appeared in the nether Quarterly , VAYAVYA , Muse India and The Tiger Moth Review among other places. He hails from Thrissur, Kerala.

(she/her) lives, loves, and lusts in Bangalore. Her work has appeared in HT’s Mint , Pena Lit Mag , Verse of Silence , Femme Fridays and elsewhere. She writes @theemdasher on Instagram.

(he/him) is a queer Indian poet whose work has appeared in The Bombay Literary Magazine , Frontier Poetry , Grain Magazine , Chestnut Review , Fourteen Poems , Cutleaf Journal , Atlanta Review and elsewhere. Currently, he lives in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.

FICTION TEAM

Associate fiction editor.

JIGAR BRAHMBHATT

When not busy with his software development job, Jigar is found thinking about stories. Everything that happens to him is fodder. So nothing in life is good or bad, but yet another opportunity for a workable story. He feels he has found his zen thus.

AMULYA B is a Bengaluru-based multimedia journalist, writer and translator who – when not doomscrolling – works in both Kannada and English languages. She is the only person to have won both Kannada and English Toto Funds the Arts (TFA) for Creative Writing in the same year (2021). Despite the craving for stability, she thrives best in between spaces (Kannada-English, Creative Writing-Journalism, Rural-Urban).

TRANSLATIONS TEAM

Translations (poetry) editor.

After studying literature in the early 80’s Madras, she earned her bread and preserve as an advertising and television professional for two decades in Mumbai, New Zealand and Hong Kong. A resetting of life-goals led her back to the world of learning– she then did an MFA from UNLV and a PhD in Religious Studies from Duke University. Researching mantra experience in tantric communities, she discovered new mantras and continuing revelations for Living Mantra: Mantra, Deities and Visionary Experience  (Cham Springer, 2019). She lives in Bangalore with her parents and partner with whom she enjoys traveling off the beaten track.

Translations (Fiction) Editor

PRIYANKA SARKAR is the translator of three novels and a few short stories from Hindi to English. She has also done some translation work from English to Hindi and Bangla to English. Her focus has been on translating women writers in Hindi into English. She has also written some short fiction and non-fiction.

She considers her life a series of happy coincidences, especially her entry into publishing in 2007 right after a Masters in Literature from DU and the beginnings of her life as a translator. She takes special delight in the irreverent and humorous and is always looking to read something that will blow her mind.

Associate Translations (Poetry) Editor

VISUAL NARRATIVES TEAM

Visual narratives editor.

SIDDHARTH DASGUPTA writes poetry and fiction from cities inflicted with an existential throb. His fourth book— A Moveable East (Red River)—arrived in 2021. Siddharth’s literature has appeared in journals around the world, while he has read in places like Lucknow, Galle, Istanbul, Mandalay, and Paris. The arts & culture being a constant part of his life, Siddharth also articulates stories for a smattering of publications. With a prior background in branding & advertising, his literature is often infused with visual conversations. He lives in the city of Poona.

In the following months, Siddharth will reshape the visual language of The Bombay Literary Magazine, while curating and cultivating arts-based literature and narratives for the journal. You’ll find the author on Instagram @ citizen.bliss and https://citizenbliss.squarespace.com

SOCIAL MEDIA TEAM

Social media (content) editor.

Social Media (Design) Editor

ANANYA MEHTA is a student of English and Political Science at St. Joseph’s University in Bangalore, India. Her writing is inspired by city life, orange cats, flower markets, seasonal fruits and the women around her. She has been published on platforms such as Youth Ki Awaaz  and  The Blahcksheep . Her personal essay won the Mother Tongue Essay Contest conducted by the Department of English at St. Joseph’s University in April 2022. It has been published in the department’s online magazine,  The Open Dosa .

SYSTEMS TEAM

Code god (retd.).

ADITYA ATHALYE is here to tell you that this site works because of other peoples’ black magic. He’s pinched a book of spells and is trying to keep it up. He thinks the Internet is held together by duct tape and a hodgepodge of shell scripts. Sometimes he writes code that works sometimes. He lives in his head everywhere. But if you do catch him somewhere in meatspace, and it’s after 4PM, and he’s drinking any more filter coffee, please do everyone this favour. Gently pry the cup away from his hands. He can’t handle any more filter coffee after 4PM. His blog is just like this bio; took him forever to type out, and hasn’t really gone anywhere.

Sysadmin Deva

SUMIT SHETTY, when he is not cooking, eating or thinking about either, can be found in his usual habitat of his over-tinkered work desk where he haunts spaces between design and code. He claims he likes to make stuff but mostly dabbles in them until someone says he’s good at it and gets his ass in line. From such experiments have emerged projects like Aetherwise (a web-dev agency) and Webisoda (a platform for Indian OTT content).

He also manages to write (poetry & fiction) whenever he’s trying hard to ignore pressing business matters and has pieces published in The Yearbook of Indian Poetry 2020-21 , The Bombay Literary Magazine , The Alipore Post , Unlost Journal , Gulmohur Quarterly . He is an organiser with the Pune Writers’ Group, is working on a science-fiction novel, and also likes to play fast and loose with the term “working”

FORMER TEAM MEMBERS

ARJUN RAJENDRAN’s most recent work is the much-praised poetry collection One Man, Two Executions (Westland, 2022). He’s also the author of  three other poetry books: The Cosmonaut in Hergé’s Rocket  (Paperwall, 2017), Your Baby Is Starving (Aainanagar/VAYAVYA 2017), and  Snake Wine (Zaporogue, 2014). He was the Charles Wallace Fellow in Writing at The University of Stirling, Scotland (2018). His poems have appeared in numerous anthologies, magazines and journals like SOFTBLOW, Eclectica, Poetry at Sangam, The Missing Slate, Asian Cha, and Berfrois .  In his tenure as poetry editor of TBLM (2017-2020),  he shepherded some seventy poets through the publication process.

Social Media Editor

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Friends of tblm.

♥ KALYAN KANKANALA :  Kalyan’s competent team of lawyers at BananaIP Counsels , India’s leading intellectual property legal consultants, crafted a significant part of the contract we ask our authors to sign.

♥ GEORGE “APPUPEN” MATHEN: We are indebted George for three things: (1) the gift of a graphic fiction piece (Issue 52), (2) sage advice on building a graphic fiction vertical, and (3) for spreading the word about TBLM within the graphic fiction community.

The Kolam Collective

The Bombay Literary Magazine is supported by a grant from Kolam EdTech, LLP. This allows us to offer our writers an honorarium.

Subscribe to TBLM’s substack Crow & Colophon for alerts, updates and notes of a literary persuasion

The Literature Times

A Review of Sahitya Sparsh Awards Winner “Bombay Review & Other Stories” by Ravi Valluri

Ravi Valluri takes readers on a captivating journey through the myriad hues of human experience with his latest collection of short stories, Bombay Review & Other Stories. Drawing inspiration from real-life incidents, Valluri masterfully weaves tales that traverse the spectrum of emotions, from drama to romance, unbridled ambition to unrequited love, and everything in between. In this review, we delve into the intricacies of Valluri’s storytelling prowess and the profound impact of his narratives.

At the heart of Bombay Review & Other Stories lies Valluri’s keen insight into the human condition. With each story, he invites readers to explore the complexities of life through the lens of relatable characters and thought-provoking scenarios. Whether it’s navigating the murky waters of politics, unraveling the mysteries of love and betrayal, or grappling with the conflict between ethics and ambition, Valluri deftly captures the essence of human existence with authenticity and depth.

One of the most compelling aspects of Valluri’s storytelling is his ability to craft multi-dimensional characters that resonate with readers on a visceral level. From writers and singers to artists and politicians, each character in Bombay Review & Other Stories is imbued with unique quirks and vulnerabilities that mirror the diversity of the human experience. As readers immerse themselves in the lives of these characters, they are confronted with their own hopes, fears, and desires, forging a deep connection that transcends the pages of the book.

Order Book: https://www.amazon.in/dp/9358836016

In addition to its rich tapestry of characters, Bombay Review & Other Stories also serves as a poignant commentary on contemporary society. Valluri fearlessly tackles a wide range of themes, including issues of sexuality, faith, and the law of attraction, shedding light on the complexities of modern life with candor and nuance. Through his storytelling, Valluri challenges readers to confront uncomfortable truths and grapple with the moral ambiguities that define our shared humanity.

Beyond its thematic depth, Bombay Review & Other Stories is also a testament to Valluri’s versatility as a writer. From murder mysteries to tender romances, each story in the collection is a testament to Valluri’s narrative skill and literary craftsmanship. With his vivid prose and evocative imagery, Valluri transports readers to the bustling streets of Bombay, immersing them in a world where every twist and turn holds the promise of revelation and redemption.

In conclusion, Bombay Review & Other Stories is a captivating exploration of life’s complexities and contradictions, brought to life by the masterful storytelling of Ravi Valluri. With its richly drawn characters, thought-provoking themes, and immersive storytelling, this collection is a must-read for anyone seeking to unravel the intricacies of the human experience. As readers navigate the pages of Bombay Review & Other Stories, they are reminded of the power of storytelling to illuminate the darkest corners of our souls and inspire us to embrace the beauty of life in all its imperfections.

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The Deodar Prize is an effort to recognise new themes and voices in literary fiction in India.

Winner and Runners-up

Srividya Tadepalli

For 'Funeral for a Demon'

Srividya is a writer and educator based in Chennai. Her writing has appeared in Aleph Book Company's anthology, A Case of Indian Marvels: Dazzling Stories from the Country's Finest New Writers, edited by David Davidar; and in Helter Skelter's Anthology of New Writing, Volume 5.

→Read the story

Samruddhi Ghodgaonkar

For 'Bats of Paradise'

Ratul Ghosh

Special mentions.

Shortlist 2023

Rohan Narula

Devika Rege

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26 Sep 2023

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28 Nov 2023

Roundtable on Khul Ke, Natasha Joshi with Chitra Ahanthem

Chennai author Srividya Tadepalli wins inaugural Deodar Prize for her short story ‘Funeral for a Demon’

Chennai-based writer wins 2023 Deodar Prize in short fiction category 

‘Bengaluru is a city that offers different types of Bengaluru, all coexisting’

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Honoured to Introduce

Parvathi nayar.

Artist & Writer Parvathi Nayar Studios

Global Visual Arts Community Chennai Chapter

A visual artist, writer and poet, Parvathi is known for her multidisciplinary art, centered on complex drawing practices, video, installations and photography. Her art engages with environment and philosophies of inhabiting them. Her artworks have been showcased at the Kochi-Muziris Biennale (2014-15); A Story of Flight, (Jaya He Museum, T2 Mumbai airport) among many. A Tedx speaker, she regularly presents her work globally at webinars.

• http://www.parvathinayar.com/

Multidisciplinary art

Drawn sculpture

Installations

Photography

Academic details

University:

Central St Martins

Master of Arts

Specialization:

Achievements

CORE / COLUMN

RADIANT SYMMETRIES

TRACES OF PRESENCE, LOCATION AND LOCALITY

LISTENING TO LIGHT

A STORY OF FLIGHT

By the mouth of the river

A River Ran Through it

Black-and-white graphite drawings

Artist Interview: Parvathi Nayar | Kochi-Muziris Biennale 2014

1 Million Pencil Dots, 1 Voyage and The Fibonacci Sequence | Art Explained |NOCTURNES Parvathi Nayar

Rasa - Nine Links

The Fluidity of Horizons

Flowers in Ritual - Research - Art - Design

Articles / publications.

Chennai’s complicated relationship with its dying rivers, as chronicled by artists

Chennai artist Parvathi Nayar finds inspiration in the streets of Parry’s Corner

Parvathi nayar’s exhibition has a message for the environment.

PARVATHI NAYAR

Got blue trash? This artist wants it

Featured videos.

Remaking Our World through Art | Parvathi Nayar | TEDxChennai

The Art of Rebellious Discipline | Parvathi Nayar | TEDxBocconiUMumbai

Parvathi Nayar Qna | Visual Arts Committee Launch Event

Inner Alignment

A Play of Shadows

Webinar/events.

"Cloak and Dagger - India's Fictional Times"

Part of the contemporary art exhibition at Zuzeum Art Centre, Riga, Latvia curated by Shaheen Merali.

Voices -Artist & Writers in Conversations

As a founder member of The Hashtag#Collective, Parvathi is  pleased to with Ravi Cavale/Serendip Art to present ‘Voices’ – a very special initiative where we are curating conversations between artists and arts-writers. It is important for the voice of the artist to be heard clear and strong, and never more so than during the Pandemic.…

The Ambiguity of Landscapes

Solo exhibition featuring drawings, photographs, artist book, animation and videos curated by Annapurna Garimella, Jackfruit Research and Design, 2014, at Gallery Veda Chennai “The Ambiguity of Landscapes indicates the possibility of interpreting visual expressions in multiple ways. It showcases Nayar’s obsessive use of hyper-real images of the human body’s interior and its environment to achieve…

Only So Many Times

Only So Many Times, installed at the show Mapping a World of Curiosities, curated by Ashna Singh, Delhi, 2015 Extract from the text by Kanika Anand for the group show titled “Mapping a world of curiosities”, at Studio Art, New Delhi Curiosity- A desire to know, an interest leading to inquiry, the quality of fastidiousness,…

Publications

Dlc channel.

Artist & Writer | Parvathi Nayar Studios | Chennai | DLC Global Visual Arts Committee

Search profiles, masterclass, forums etc., testimonial.

As a founder member of The Hashtag #Collective , Parvathi is  pleased to with Ravi Cavale/Serendip Art to present ‘Voices’ – a very special initiative where we are curating conversations between artists and arts-writers. It is important for the voice of the artist to be heard clear and strong, and never more so than during the Pandemic. Equally, arts writers have an enormous role to play in establishing the larger contexts and milieus where the artistic voice can be engaged with. Artist and arts writer together, we believe, will synergistically create important dialogues for and about our times.

“The Ambiguity of Landscapes indicates the possibility of interpreting visual expressions in multiple ways. It showcases Nayar’s obsessive use of hyper-real images of the human body’s interior and its environment to achieve a kind of synecdocichal abstraction by making enlarged images of microscopic elements to represent the whole. In the process, she frees herself from direct contact and replication of reality. Nayar does not want her art to be seen as asserting facts; again and again, she dodges the attempt to finalize readings of her work, deferring the closure of interpretation.

Nayar’s use of hyper-real images that verge on abstraction is the result of an obsessive and conflicted desire for both visual minimalism and complexity. There is a profound desire to draw deep concepts by showing what is usually hidden and obscure and by emphasizing materiality and texture. Nayar intentionally creates works in which this aspiration become entangled with larger social issues through the viewer’s act of looking. This exhibition is a conversation between the artist, the artworks and viewers.”

Only So Many Times, installed at the show Mapping a World of Curiosities, curated by Ashna Singh, Delhi, 2015

Extract from the text by Kanika Anand for the group show titled “Mapping a world of curiosities”, at Studio Art, New Delhi

Curiosity- A desire to know, an interest leading to inquiry, the quality of fastidiousness, a rare or strange object

Four artists discover a world of their curiosities through the insertion or intervention of objects. By subverting the scale of everyday things, each artist attempts to explore a new curiosity for Parvathi Nayar it is discovering an alternate reality through an animated activation of her drawings

Parvathi Nayar: The play of an unknown landscape dislocations marked in the photographed drawings of Parvathi Nayar exploits the element of chance in a contrived world that parallels the one we live in. Nayar cleverly places familiar objects like a chair, or cacti within her drawings, a voyeuristic peek into a surreal and rather enticing dimension, of a scale unknown. The fact that none of the photographs are photoshopped makes for an even more perplexing outsider to insider view.

Mapping a world of curiosities addresses the dichotomy of society and nature, of subject and object. Each work is a mapping of hungered, thwarted and teased objects- a means of indulging our desires and repeating unappeased thoughts. The show is a theatre of abstractions, where each object performs a role on a stage of the artist’s own making and in doing so, reveals the fragility of all worldly relations- of power, gender, animate and inanimate matter.

Inner Alignment is based on the premise that to be authentic and to live a happy and successful life, there are aspects of our inner world that need to be in alignment.

Moving seamlessly between suburban America and the little village of Vavakkadu in postcolonial India, this nuanced literary tale about love, loss and longing will have you rooting for the possibilities of second chances.

Flowers in Ritual – Research – Art – Design Flowers are vibrant and all around us. They become an essential part of the Onam rituals, but there is more to them! Join us for this exciting talk between Geetanjali Sachdev, an art and design educator, and Parvathi Nayar, a contemporary artist from Chennai who has unique perspectives on flowers.

Geetanjali, with her approaches in pedagogy and Parvathi and her artistic approaches, this session is all set to make you look at flowers for their beauty, aesthetics, importance in the environment and more!

Her black-and-white graphite drawings are multifaceted works that look at the internal/intimate spaces within our bodies, and the external/public spaces in which we live, often through the prism of science and technology.

three-dimensional sculptural forms that are covered with drawings as in the seminal 20-foot high drawing A Story of Flight

Contact Parvathi Nayar

Chennai-based contemporary visual artist, poet and writer Parvathi Nayar is known for her multidisciplinary art, centered on complex drawing practices, video, installations, text and photography. Her black-and-white graphite drawings are multifaceted works that look at the internal/intimate spaces within our bodies, and the external/public spaces in which we live, often through the prism of science and technology. Parvathi’s art talks about different engagements with our environment, and the philosophies of inhabiting them.

Solos include Atlas of Re-Imaginings (2018, Gallery Veda, Chennai), At the Heart of the Question (2018, Singapore), Haunted by Waters (2017, Dakshinachitra Museum, Chennai), Dissonant Images: Drawing in Time, (2016, New Delhi), The Ambiguity of Landscapes (2014, Chennai), I sing the body electric (2008, Mumbai), Win Lose Draw (2007, Singapore) Drawing is a Verb (Singapore, 2006) journey (1998, Jakarta).

Installations, including those in public spaces, are WAVE at Alliance Francaise Madras and Gallery Veda, Invite/Refuse at the Indo-German DAMned Art project curated by Florian Matzner and Ravi Agarwal (2018); GenderFluid and Reflecting (on) The Inhabited Crossroads as part of TheHashtag#Collective (Kochi, 2018 and 2016); Parvathi is a founder member of the collective), and The Music of the Spheres (Chennai Mathematical Institute, 2016). She pioneered the form of “drawn sculpture” as in the seminal 20-foot high drawing A Story of Flight, Jai He art program, T2 Terminal, Mumbai international airport and Water of Life/Salt as part of Rajeev Sethi’s Elemental project.

She presented an installation of drawings and sound titled The Fluidity of Horizons at the Kochi-Muziris Biennale 2014/15. She was one of 70 artists selected to be part of B70, the historical 70th-anniversary birthday show of Amitabh Bachchan in Mumbai. In 2008, her painting Firelight was selected to be featured on ABN Amro’s Dil Se platinum card in Singapore.

Group shows include confine, International Digital Media Art Festival, (Web-based 2020), Anthesis (Chennai, 2019), Of Memories and Might (Biennale Collateral, Kochi, 2018), L’Attrape Feu (2016, France), To Let the World In (2012, Art Chennai), Af-fair (2008, Dubai), Drawing Out Conversations (Biennale Collateral, 2008, Singapore), Nature Born (2006, Indonesia), popularart (2005, Nehru Centre London)…

Her works have been collected by institutions such as the Singapore Art Museum, BMW, The Sotheby’s Art Institute, The Australia India Institute and Deutsche Bank. She is the subject of the film “Artists of Chennai: Parvathi Nayar” by photographer/filmmaker Saravana Kumar. She is featured in Parvathi Nayar Artist Interview at http://kochimuzirisbiennale.org/artist-interview-parvathi-nayar/

She experiments with the Photopoetry form to include collaborations of photos, installations, hand-drawn imagery and poetry. Parvathi’s photopoetry featured in HELD: The Lockdown in Words and Images by the Goethe Institut; poetry presentations include Poetry with Prakriti 2017. Her writings have included commentaries on contemporary culture; as a public speaker, her TEDx talks include “Seeing the world through Different Lenses” (Chennai 2016). Parvathi received her Masters in Fine Art from Central St Martins College of Art and Design, London, on a Chevening scholarship.

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Tag: creative writing award

Writing Competitions and Awards for you (2020 – 2021)

The Bombay Review: We have multiple funded opportunities for writers of all genres. While we tend to support talent in our primary bases of South Asia and the East Coast of the United States, we are open to applications from around the world. The pandemic has been hard for everybody, and we are happy to provide you with financial support for writing projects as well, apart from mentorship, resources, a chance to be published and other opportunities.

Please check guidelines carefully, before applying. Our hiring process for full time jobs at The Bombay Review has slowed down currently – you can take a look at the jobs portal on the website for upcoming requirements. Freelance opportunities are available on assignment basis, but preference is given to applicants based out of Toronto, New York, New Delhi and Mumbai, since some of the work will require in-person attendance.

Details below.

Creative Writing Award – Fiction | New Dalit Writing Edition | LGBTQ+ Vol 2/3 | Grants for Literary Initiatives | Best of Student Writing Award

Details | Information | Apply

A LIST OF CREATIVE WRITING CONTESTS, AWARDS and COMPETITIONS

The Charles Causley International Poetry Competition 2020

Themes/Genres: Poetry Prize:

• The 1st prize winner will receive £2,000 plus a one week writing residency at Cyprus Well, Charles Causley’s former home in Launceston.
• The 2nd prize winner will receive £250 and the third prize winner will receive £100.
• Five Highly Commended poets whose work shows particular promise will each receive £30.

Status: Open (as of Nov, 2020)

THE GREGORY O’DONOGHUE INTERNATIONAL POETRY COMPETITION

The competition is open to original, unpublished and unbroadcast poems in the English language of 40 lines or fewer. The poem can be on any subject, in any style, by a writer of any nationality, living anywhere in the world. Translated work is not in the scope of this competition. Once entered, no alterations can be made to the submission. Simultaneous submissions are accepted but please notify us immediately should your work be accepted elsewhere.

• 1st Prize — €2,000 —Featured reading at the Cork International Poetry Festival (March 2021) — Publication in Southword
• 2nd Prize — €500 — Publication in Southword
• 3rd Prize — €250 — Publication in Southword
• Ten runners-up — €50 — Publication in Southword

Deadline: 30th November, 2020 (midnight). Entries are accepted from 31st September. Submission fees: €7 per poem or €30 for a batch of five. If you would like to submit more than five poems, please make more than one entry.

LitMag’s Anton Chekhov Award for Flash Fiction

Submission Guidelines: Entries must be short stories between 500 and 1,500 words. Please use 12pt type, preferably Times New Roman, and submit your short story as either a Word doc or a PDF. Only previously unpublished short stories are eligible. Writers may submit multiple stories, each of which requires a separate submission. Submissions through Submittable only. Notification: The contest will be judged by the editors of the magazine. The winning short stories and finalists will be announced publicly on our Web site and social media as well as by email to all contestants in March of 2021

First Prize: $1,250 + publication in LitMag + agency review Finalists: Three finalists will receive $100 each. All finalists will be considered for possible agency review and publication.

Deadline: November 30, 2020. Contest Fee: $16

THE MOTH POETRY PRIZE 2020

The Moth Poetry Prize is one of the biggest prizes in the world for a single unpublished poem. The prize is open to anyone, as long as the poem is previously unpublished, and each year it attracts thousands of entries from new and established poets from over 50 countries worldwide.

The entry fee is €15 per poem. You can enter online or send your poem(s) along with a cheque or postal order made payable to ‘The Moth Magazine Ltd.

Deadline: 31 DECEMBER 2020

The shortlist will be announced in March 2021 and the four shortlisted poems will appear in the spring 2021 issue of The Moth.

WOW – Women on Writing Contest – 2020 FLASH FICTION

WOW! hosts a (quarterly) writing contest every three months, and has done so since 2006. The mission of this contest is to inspire creativity, great writing, and provide well-rewarded recognition to contestants. The WOW Flash Fiction Contest has awarded over $80,000 in cash to writers since its inception. The contest is open globally; age is of no matter; and entries must be in English. 

Word Count: Maximum: 750, Minimum: 250 Deadline: November 30th 11:59 PM (Pacific Time)

• 1st Prize – $400.00 cash prize, $25 Amazon Gift Certificate, Entry published on WOW! Women On Writing
• 2nd Prize – $300.00 cash prize, $25 Amazon Gift Certificate, Entry published on WOW! Women On Writing
• 3rd Prize – $200.00 cash prize, $25 Amazon Gift Certificate, Entry published on WOW! Women On Writing
• 7 RUNNERS UP: $25 Amazon Gift Certificate, Entry published on WOW! Women On Writing

Commonwealth Short Story Prize The Commonwealth Short Story Prize brings together writers from 10+ countries, including India. Translated entries are also eligible, as are stories written in the original Bengali, Chinese, French, Greek, Kiswahili, Malay, Portuguese, Samoan, Tamil and Turkish. Themes/Genres: Short fiction Prize: £2,500 for the regional winner; £5,000 for the overall winner. Submission Fees: NIL Status: Will open on September 1

The Indian Short Story Content on Juggernaut A few years old, the publisher Juggernaut hosts regular writing contests on its website. Themes/Genres: Multiple, check website Prize: 10 entries get editorial feedback, 3 win an exclusive publishing contract with Juggernaut books. Submission Fees: NIL Status: Open (as of August, 2020)

Story Mirror Founded in 2015, StoryMirror is a tech start-up offering everyone a platform to launch themselves in the field of literature. They host regular contests in English and various Indian regional languages. Themes/Genres: Short fiction Prize: Certificates and publication on the Story Mirror website. Submission Fees: NIL Status: Open (as of August, 2020)

Dastaan Award The Dastaan Award was set up by Ali Azfar Naqvi and Afia Aslam to support new writing. Writers from all over Asia are invited to submit their writing.

Themes/Genres: Short fiction Prize: PKR 50,000 Submission Fees: NIL Status: Check website (as of August, 2020)

Kitaab – The Best of South Asian Stories

Kitaab’s The Best of South Asian Stories series of anthologies aims to celebrate the Asian short story as a constantly evolving, innovative and vibrant mode of literary expression.

Themes/Genres: Short fiction with a focus on climate change and migration but other themes will be considered too. Prize: Publication in The Best of South Asian Stories anthology Submission Fees: $20 per submission As of August 2020: Closed

The Wordweavers 2020 Contest Wordweavers is an online magazine for short stories and poetry. They regularly host poetry and short fiction competitions.

Themes/Genres: Short fiction and poetry Prize: Publication in the Anthology Submission Fees: NIL Status: Open (as of August, 2020)

An Asian Tapestry of Colours This contest invites writers from the Asia Pacific region, including Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, and India to share stories specifically for readers between 13 to 17 years old.

Themes/Genres: Short fiction Prize: Publication and $50 Submission Fees: NIL Status: Closed (as of August, 2020)

Muse of the Month: Short Story Contest by Women’s Web Women’s Web is dedicated to encouraging women to share their stories. Since 2014, they host a monthly short story contest.

Themes/Genres: Short fiction on the prompt “For a long time I was scared I’d find out I was like my mother.” Prize: Publication in the annual anthology and INR 500 Submission Fees: NIL Status: Open (as of August, 2020)

Themes/Genres: Responsive poems: We respond to the world and weather. We respond to ourselves. We respond. We. Prize: Publication on several web architectural portals and anthology. Submission Fees: INR 500 Status: Open (as of August, 2020)

Sharpen the Saw: Summary Writing Contest Pencil is a community-based app to discover stories; you can share your own and read others too. Their various contests help new writers gain traction.

Themes/Genres : Summary on a book of your choice Prize: INR 10,000 Submission Fees: NIL Status: Open (as of August, 2020)

The Asian Writer Bookouture, in association with The Asian Writer and Dahlia Books, is inviting commercial fiction submissions from writers from BAME backgrounds.

Themes/Genres: Commercial fiction. First three chapters. Prize: Editorial feedback Submission Fees: NIL Status: Open (as of August, 2020)

TOTO Funds the Arts Toto Funds the Arts (TFA) invites applications from persons between the ages of 18 and 29 for the 2021 TOTO Awards for Creative Writing in English.

Themes/Genres: Short plays, stories and poetry Prize: Editorial feedback Submission Fees: NIL Status: Open (as of August, 2020)

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Architha Narayanan

ASIA - India

Architha Narayanan is a teacher with a bachelor’s in law and a master’s in public policy. She has previously been involved in environmental policy research for organizations such as the UNDP and the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, India. She has also coauthored a National Governance Report called the Public Affairs Index, 2017. Her short fiction has appeared in The Bangalore Review and has also been shortlisted for The Bombay Review ’s annual creative writing awards.

By Architha Narayanan

A Familiar Disquiet

By architha narayanan.

……

Led by creativity: Rewarding remarkable results

All Winners and Honourable Mentions of the Creative Review Annual Awards 2024 have now been announced!

Now in their 21st year, the Annual Awards celebrate brilliant bursts of creative genius that keep the business world spinning. The winning projects cover a range of diverse disciplines within the industry and this year we are proud to also announce the winners of our newly-introduced Most Creative awards.

You can view all of these outstanding entries through our winners showcase – prepare to be surprised, delighted and inspired.

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