Sanjoy Hazarika to be presented with the Rotary Writing For Peace Award 2023 at Tata Literature Live! The Mumbai Litfest

Sanjoy Hazarika receives the award for his acclaimed writing on human rights, conflict mitigation and development-related issues in the North East region. Photo Courtesy; Nascimento Pinto

Veteran journalist, author and human rights activist Sanjoy Hazarika will receive this year's Rotary Writing for Peace Award instituted by The Peace Avenue of Rotary District 3141 Mumbai, for his acclaimed writing on human rights, conflict mitigation and development-related issues in the North East region.

The award will be presented to Hazarika at Tata Literature Live! The Mumbai Litfest on October 29 at 2 pm at the Godrej Theatre, NCPA, Nariman Point, followed by a conversation with Kalpana Sharma.

Rotary believes that in a world where over 70 million people are displaced as a result of conflict, violence, persecution and human rights violations, peace-makers must be cherished and honoured. Equally, since its inception, Literature Live! (and as evinced through its festival Tata Literature Live!) has been committed to providing a platform for writers who represent values of humanism, equality and respect.

The Writing for Peace Award therefore represents the shared vision both organisations have: in refusing to accept conflict as a way of life and of the importance of acknowledging writers who uphold these ideals in their work. Every year one Indian writer whose body of work has centred around peace-building is to be the recipient of the award. The writer is chosen by a jury with representatives from both organisations as well as independent members.

Accepting the award, Sanjoy Hazarika said, "The Rotary Literature Live! Peace Writing Award honours the many unsung media professionals who work at great risk in the Northeastern region and across the country, at a time when fake news and false narratives promoting hate, suspicion and prejudice proliferate. A normal life for a professional becomes challenging, even dangerous, in highly complex areas. I have learned that the best stories emerge when we listen to each other and people at field and policy levels. In that process, we become repositories of their life experiences, and tellers of their stories, expanding the limits of our knowledge as we listen, read, travel. The Peace Writing Award is a spur to do better, broader and deeper work with compassion."

Rajiv Punater, chair, Peace Awards Committee, Rotary District 3141 said, "The Rotary Writing for Peace Award aims to foster global harmony through the written word. By celebrating authors who champion the ideals of peace, we hope to promote dialogue, unity worldwide, and inspire change. Our congratulations to Sanjoy Hazarika for being chosen for the Peace Award whose work has made an indelible impact on peace, tolerance and understanding."

Amy Fernandes, co-director, Tata Literature Live! The Mumbai Litfest said, "Sanjoy Hazarika is greatly deserving of this award. He has devoted his life to the betterment of people in the Northeast region, and to bringing a greater understanding and knowledge of the complexities of the issues to the rest of India. It is through the insight and depth of writing of journalists like Sanjoy Hazarika that Indians across the country develop empathy and solidarity."

The festival will be held online from October 25 - 26 and will continue on ground from October 27 - 29 at the NCPA in Nariman Point, St Pauls Institute of Communication Education Bandra and Title Waves bookstore in Bandra.