Jeffrey Archer, Amish Tripathi Celebrate Indian Storytelling with New Literary Award

Celebrated British novelist Jeffrey Archer and bestselling Indian author Amish Tripathi joined hands for a candid and insightful conversation with NDTV, reflecting on the power of storytelling and their latest collaboration: the Archer Amish Award for Storytellers.

The exclusive interview, which also included a tribute to Indian literary icon R.K. Narayan, comes in the wake of the inaugural edition of the award, which honours excellence in contemporary Indian fiction.

The award, conceived by Archer and Tripathi in collaboration with The House of Abhinandan Lodha, aims to spotlight authors who embody the spirit of compelling storytelling. As Tripathi put it, the goal is to recognise writers "who can force the reader to turn the page." The award carries a generous cash prize of USD 25,000, one of the highest for Indian fiction writers.

Dr. Shalini Mullick, a Delhi-based writer and medical professional, was named the first recipient of the award for her novel The Way Home, which explores the journey of three millennials grappling with grief, identity, and healing as they seek solace in Goa. The award ceremony was held at the Queen Elizabeth II Centre in London, where UK Minister for Culture Lisa Nandy presented the prize to Mullick.

During the NDTV interview, both Archer and Tripathi acknowledged the challenges in selecting a winner, given the depth and diversity of entries. Archer praised Indian readers as “among the biggest readers on earth,” lauding India’s enduring love for books.

He also paid heartfelt tribute to R.K. Narayan, calling him his “personal hero” and a master storyteller. “He should’ve got the Nobel Prize. Unquestionably,” Archer said.

Tripathi, whose name lends the award its title alongside Archer, expressed deep admiration for the British author. “It’s an honour to have my name associated with someone I’ve admired since my schooldays,” he said.

The Archer Amish Award for Storytellers is poised to become a major fixture in the Indian literary calendar, celebrating works that reflect the complexity, diversity, and vibrancy of modern India.