Arunachal Pradesh Author Subi Taba Receives Ramnath Goenka Sahithya Samman 2025

Recognition for Literary Excellence

Itanagar, Jan 3: Subi Taba, a talented writer from Arunachal Pradesh, has been honored with the esteemed Ramnath Goenka Sahithya Samman 2025 for her outstanding collection of short stories titled Tales from the Dawn-Lit Mountains.

The award ceremony took place in Chennai, where Vice President CP Radhakrishnan presented the accolade in front of a distinguished audience that included notable jury members, writers, and cultural icons.

As per the citation from the New Indian Express Group, Tales from the Dawn-Lit Mountains: Stories from Arunachal Pradesh is described as “a radiant piece of fiction that articulates the experiences of a landscape and its people, often overlooked in Indian literature.”

This collection, deeply rooted in the region's oral storytelling traditions yet infused with modern literary flair, has been commended for its ability to portray “the essence of life in Arunachal Pradesh with subtle strength and profound empathy.”

The jury noted that Subi Taba's “concise and evocative writing” delves into themes such as memory, identity, loss, and resilience, effectively capturing the moral landscape of mountain communities facing the challenges of transformation.

The citation emphasized that her work broadens “the imaginative landscape of Indian fiction,” reinforcing the role of storytelling as a means of cultural preservation and renewal.

Tales from the Dawn-Lit Mountains triumphed as the Best Fiction title in a competitive field, outshining other notable contenders like Heart Lamp by Bhanu Mushtaq, who won the International Booker Prize, and The Girl with the Seven Lives by Vikas Swarup, the acclaimed author of Slumdog Millionaire.

This recognition highlights the increasing visibility of voices from India's North Eastern region in the broader national literary scene.

The Ramnath Goenka Sahithya Samman is regarded as one of India's most prestigious literary awards, celebrating narrative bravery, authenticity, and artistic merit.