The jury praised him for expanding the frontiers of postcolonial and ecological literature and giving voice to subaltern subjects, including nature. Selected unanimously after a year-long review that began with 113 novelists, Ghosh becomes the 2025 laureate.
Established in 2011 by the Toji Cultural Foundation in honor of novelist Pak Kyong-ni, the prize recognizes “the truest writer of our time” and carries Korea’s largest literary cash award.
Past laureates include Marilynne Robinson, Amos Oz, Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o, and A.S. Byatt. Winners include Richard Ford, Ismail Kadare, Amin Maalouf, Christoph Ransmayr, and Sylvie Germain.
Amitav Ghosh expressed his excitement and gratitude upon receiving the Pak Kyongni Prize from South Korea’s Toji Foundation. He stated, “I am thrilled and honored to have been awarded the Pak Kyongni Prize.” Ghosh reflected on the significance of this recognition, mentioning that it felt like a profound privilege to follow in the footsteps of esteemed writers such as Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o, Antonia Byatt, and Ismail Kadare. He also emphasized the importance of being linked to the legacy of Pak Kyongni, acknowledged as South Korea’s most cherished author of the 20th century.
He noted that the award held even greater significance for him, given the current cultural prominence of South Korea. Ghosh remarked, “The significance of this award is deepened for me by the fact that it comes at a time when South Korea has established itself as a global superpower across the cultural spectrum.” He pointed out how it was particularly remarkable that South Korea became the first non-Western nation in a long time to achieve such cultural influence, spanning areas like K-pop, film, and literature.
Furthermore, Ghosh shared his fascination with the narrative of the hallyu wave reaching India through Manipur and the Northeast. He observed that it serves as a reminder that the world is undergoing significant transformations, often without our realization. In this context, he felt honored that his own work, which frequently highlights overlooked aspects of history and unheard voices—including those of non-human entities—had resonated within this cultural milieu. He expressed immense gratitude to the Toji Foundation, concluding with appreciation for the honor bestowed upon him.
Born in Calcutta and educated in Delhi, Oxford, and Alexandria, Ghosh is the author of “The Shadow Lines,” “The Glass Palace,” “The Hungry Tide,” “the Ibis Trilogy,” “The Great Derangement,” “Gun Island,” “The Nutmeg’s Curse,” “Jungle Nama,” “The Living Mountain,” “Smoke and Ashes,” and “Wild Fictions.” His new novel, “Ghost-Eye,” will be released this December.
His works, translated into over thirty languages, have earned him honors worldwide, including the Jnanpith Award (2019) and the Erasmus Prize (2024).
The 2025 Pak Kyongni Prize, hosted by the Toji Cultural Foundation and Wonju City and sponsored by Milim Syscon, will be presented on October 23 at Hotel Inter-Burgo, Wonju. The ceremony will mark the UNESCO City of Literature’s continued role as a Korean and global literary exchange hub.
