Tata Trusts’ Parag Initiative Announces Parag Honours List 2022

* The annual list features the best books for children and young adults published in the past one year across Hindi and English in an effort to promote good quality children’s literature in India

Parag Initiative of Tata Trusts today announced the 3rd edition of the Parag Honour List for the year 2022. This robust list features a wide range of original writings across categories like picture books, chapter books, and young adult books. With a focus on curating a comprehensive collection of remarkable literature in English and in Hindi, the list aims to promote access to good quality children’s literature that librarians, teachers, parents and children can refer to and read.

The Parag Initiative of Tata Trusts believes in the transformative power of reading for pleasure and works to ensure that children across India can appreciate and enjoy reading in diverse regional languages. The work of Parag spans over sourcing, publishing, disseminating and promoting good quality children's literature in India. Over the years, Parag has catalysed the children's literature ecosystem towards encouraging joyful reading. This year, Parag received books from 23 Indian publishers, published between October, 2020 to September, 2021 with over 200 entries, 38 of which were in English and 9 books Hindi across genres we selected.

Amrita Patwardhan, Head of Education at Tata Trusts, shared her views on the initiative, she said, “With the number of books being published for children on the rise, it is important to help readers including librarians and parents with recommendations of good books. The Parag Honour List is a first of its kind effort in India, of an annual independently curated list of noteworthy books published in Hindi and English across genre and age-groups. An Independent jury with a deep understanding of children’s literature reviews a number of entries and curates PHL.”

As part of the criteria for creating the Parag Honour List, all leading publishers of children’s books are requested to submit their select titles for review. In turn the books are reviewed by a panel of eminent educationists and bibliophiles, with the very best finding their way to the Parag Honour List.

The jury for the English language category comprised of Anita Balasubramanian, co-founder of The Learning Network, Jeeva Raghunath, Author and Storyteller; and Manjiri Nimbkar, Author, Illustrator and Medical Doctor

Speaking on the book list Manjiri said, “This effort by Parag to curate the best books through a rigorous exploration is a truly laudable undertaking. The books in this list handle diverse topics and are beautifully crafted. Some are funny and entertaining while others handle delicate issues very sensitively while still others introduce the reader to the life's work of contemporary heroes."

Esteemed members of the jury in the Hindi language category were Arun Kamal, Poet and Essayist, Gurbachan Singh, Executive Editor of Azim Premji University’s -Paathshaala Bhitar Aur Bahar and Prachi Kalra, Associate Professor, Gargi College, Delhi University

Prachi Kalra added, “The Parag Honour List is about the pleasure of binge reading! Just drown yourself in the best books.