Mohammad Akram/Delhi

Prof. Khalid Javed, contemporary author of Delhi’s Jamia Millia Islamia has won the prestigious JCB Award 2022 for his book Nemat Khanna. The award comes for the English version of the book The Paradise of Food.

The translator of the book is Baran Farooqui from Jamia Milia islamia University. Prof. Khalid Javed will get Rs 25 lakh as award money while Baran Farooqui gets Rs 10 lakh.

Nemat Khana was published in 2014 and has become the first Urdu novel to be honored with the JCB Award.

The story of The Paradise of Food is anchored in the kitchen of a typical middle-class Muslim family, revolving around hunger, violence, love, guilt, and confession.

Khalid Javed was conferred the award at a function held in Delhi's Oberoi Hotel on Saturday. In fact, his name was announced on the spot.

After winning the award Prof. Khalid Javed said, "Today, I am experiencing a real moment of happiness. I did not expect this at all. I wrote this novel in Urdu in 2014 and today its star is shinning.”

He gave credit to his translator, Baran Farouqi because “it has been transported to another language and the world.”

JCB Literary Director Meeta Kapoor said that the whole of India has a rich tradition of storytelling. The JCB Prize for Literature reflects this and is not bound by any one language, creating a level playing field between English and translated works... This has helped us break down barriers and build relationships with those who we can't talk to.

Prof. Khalid Javed thanked his fans and Urdu lovers on his Facebook page. He wrote, 'This award is not mine but Urdu's. It belongs to the Urdu community. I am proud and happy that I write in Urdu and all these are the virtues of Urdu.

Congratulations have been pouring in for the author since last night.

Facebook user Ozair Qureshi wrote, "This is a place of pride for all Urdu people. Congratulations, Mohtaram Khalid Javed Sahib."

At the same time Published, Surya Prakash Mandir from Bikaner, wrote: 'Congratulations to Khalid Sahab for JCB Award 2022. The Hindi translation of his same book is coming soon from Surya Prakash Mandir.”

Journalist and Publisher Chiki Sarkar wrote on Twitter: 'And food heaven won, Khalid Javed Congratulations, we are proud of you. '

Khalid Javed’s book had been included in five shortlisted novels selected from all the Indian languages for the prestigious literary award.

Prof. Khalid Javed's three novels Maut Ki Kitab, Namat Khana, and Ek Khanjar Pani Mein' have become very popular and his fourth novel Arsalan Aur Behzad is scheduled to published soon.

His novel Maut Ki Kitab was translated as The Book of Death by Dr A Naseeb Khan.

ALSO READ:Khalid Javed’s book based on a Muslim kitchen shortlisted for JCB Award

Prof Khalid Javed is the recipient of many prestigious awards from literary institutions.