VoW - REC Book Awards 2025

 

Valley of Words (VoW) ~ Shabdavali, a not-for-profit initiative of the Valley of Words Foundation Trust based in Dehradun, will conduct its 9th edition with a Festival held in Dehradun between November/December 2025, and events with partner institutions in cities/campuses across India from August to December, 2025.

 

The Valley of Words mission to acknowledge the best of Indian literature is showcased through the VoW Book Awards in eight categories. The Longlist of ten books in each category, which is brought down to the five shortlisted titles around which are designed the English Literature and Hindi Sahitya, Young Adults and Children Vertical of the Festival, are decided by an eminent Jury.

 

Nominations are invited for the next edition of the VoW-REC Book Awards during the period of  January 1st — March 15th, 2025. 

 

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES:

Submissions are accepted from all registered publishing houses having offices within the geographical territory of India. Additionally, the Publisher must be subject to Indian Laws. 

 

• All books which are submitted must have a registered ISBN number or equivalent indicator recognised by international book repositories. Individual nominations/self-publications are accepted provided they have a valid accompanying ISBN number. The Individual nominations/self-publications must also conform to the rules of submission, registration, short-listing, and other pertinent steps. 

 

• There is no limitation on the number of submissions in each category. In other words, a publisher may send multiple books by different authors across categories. 

 

• The publisher must have the consent of the author to submit the title or titles to the VoW Book Awards 2025. In addition, the publisher must secure the consent of the author to participate in promotional activity, including publication of the author’s name and image, in connection with the VoW Book Awards 2025, upon the request of VoW. Obtaining consent for submission as well as any promotional activity is the sole duty of the publisher and any dispute with respect to the same must be taken up with the publisher. VoW assumes no liability in this regard. 

•  Incase of self nominated books all the permissions referred to in the clause above are assumed to be granted by the author.

 

Incase the nomination of the book is done by anyone else other than the publisher or author stipulations in para .. will apply to the person or entity nominating.

 

Nominations are accepted in the following 8 categories:

 

English Fiction 

English Non-Fiction

Translations from Languages of India into English 

Hindi Fiction 

Hindi Non-Fiction

Translations from Languages of India into Hindi 

Writings for Young Adults – Bilingual (11-16 years)

Children’s Literature – Bilingual (5-10 years)

 

• Eligible titles must have been published in print during the course of the previous calendar year (January 1st to December 31st, 2024). Each entry should be the author’s original work or an authorised translation into Hindi or English. 

 

• Five identical physical copies of each book must be submitted by Indian Speed Post or Courier by the Publisher / Individual Applicant after filling out the nomination form (which can be accessed at Nominate a Book – Valley of Words). The category the book(s) submitted are to be adjudicated in must be clearly stated.

 

It is hereby clarified that e-copies of any book will NOT be accepted for adjudication.

 

The five copies of nominated books are to be sent to:

 

Mr. Bikram Singh

VoW Café-Library-Gallery 

Near USHA, Sahastradhara Road,

Dehradun 248014
UTTARAKHAND

(+91 94129 20447)
 

Only those books received till 23:59 hours on the 15th of March, 2025, will be considered. Any book received after the above stated timeline will be deemed to not have been  submitted. However, the VoW Foundation Trust reserves the right to extend the date for filing the nomination(s).

 

It is clarified that proof of posting a submission is not proof of receipt by the VoW Foundation Trust. The VoW Foundation Trust will not accept any responsibility for submissions that are delayed, misdirected or otherwise lost prior to receipt.

 

• It is hereby informed to all concerned that Nominated books are maintained in the VoW Café’s Library space, which is entirely open-access to all. Select books are also donated to other libraries  / partner institutions in the country to ensure the widest possible reach of the nominated literature. 

 

• Books will be received in good faith, with the presumption that plagiarism checks or checks relating to any other intellectual property rights issues have been completed prior to nomination. The VoW Foundation Trust will not be liable for any issues/violations pertaining to plagiarism, any other intellectual property rights/violations or any connected issue which comes to light at any point of time, even after the Awards have been given.

 

• The following publications are not eligible for submission:

 

1.  Academic Books and Thesis, Edited Volumes, 

   1. Anthologies or Books written by more than one author, 

c. Reference Books, 

d. Text Books, 

e. Guide Books, 

f. Educational Materials including books made of open access 

g. Study-Materials online, 

h. Manuals, Reprints and 

i. Television, Radio and Film Tie- ins/Trivia      

 

VoW has the sole right to decide whether an entry fits within the aforestated categories.    

     

• A panel of judges, including at least one member who is independent of VoW, will select a Longlist and Shortlist from all valid entries received in accordance with the evaluation criteria. 

 

The judges’ decision for the VoW Book Awards 2025 is final and binding and cannot be contested. No correspondence will be entertained by the VoW Foundation Trust from the authors or publishers in this regard.

 

• Shortlisted entrants shall be sent notifications of their short-listing and the shortlisted titles will be posted on the VoW Website on or before 30th July 2025. 

 

Shortlisted entrants will be asked to confirm their physical presence at the Valley of Words International Literature and Arts Festival in Dehradun in November/December 2025 (“2025”).     

 

• A second panel of Judges, including at least one member who is independent of VoW, will select the eight finalists from all valid shortlisted entries on or before 30th September 2025.

 

All winners for the VoW Book Awards 2025 will be invited to attend VoW 2025. The Prize and citation will be awarded to VBA winners during VoW 2025.

 

• VoW 2025 is envisaged as a physical event. However, VoW Foundation Trust has the discretion to modify the event to a virtual/online format based on the prevailing circumstances. In case the event is modified to a virtual/online format, the Shortlisted Entrants will be informed expeditiously. 

 

• The VoW Book Awards 2025 are not open to employees of VoW Foundation Trust to the Board of Governors, or to their family members, nor to anyone else connected with the aforementioned Awards.

 

• Upon Shortlisting, the Entries will be governed by the terms and conditions as stated in the Letter of Shortlisting, in addition to the present Guidelines. It is clarified that the shortlisted entrants must comply with the terms and conditions as stated in the Letter of Shortlisting.

 

• The VoW Foundation Trust reserves the right to alter the adjudication method/team/leadership structure for VoW 2025, as it deems fit.

 

• The VoW Foundation Trust reserves the right not to award a prize in any category whatsoever without disclosing the reasons thereof.

 

•  Indian Laws shall govern the VoW Book Awards 2025 and any dispute arising in this regard will be subject to adjudication solely before the Jurisdictional Court in Dehradun, India.

For further details or information, please visit our website or write in to us at celebrate@valleyofwords.org.

 

Come, join us as we celebrate the word – and beyond…