Mumbai, August 4, 2026: Crossword Book Awards, one of India’s longest-running and most respected literary honours, marks a landmark milestone with its 20th edition, reaffirming its enduring commitment to celebrating the very best of Indian writing in English. Since presenting its first award in 1998, the Crossword Book Awards have evolved into one of the country’s most influential literary honours, expanding from a single award to ten categories that recognise excellence across a wide range of genres. Over the decades, the Awards have honoured more than a hundred outstanding books and celebrated five distinguished recipients with the Lifetime Achievement Award , reflecting their enduring contribution to India’s literary and publishing landscape. Marking this milestone year, the Crossword Book Awards have announced their distinguished jury for the 2026 edition. It brings together some of the country’s most accomplished voices from literature, journalism, academia, publishing and...
Title: The Last Vanara Author: Anil John Genre: Mythological Fiction / Thriller / Mystery Publication Date / Copyright: 2026 Executive Summary The Last Vanara by Anil John is an ambitious, fast-paced mythological thriller that seamlessly weaves ancient Indian epics, secret societies, marine archaeology, and modern cryptographic linguistics. Beginning with a mysterious, tragic naval diving expedition near Ram Setu in 1978 and shifting to a murder mystery in present-day Varanasi, the novel sets out on a high-stakes journey across history, faith, and human morality. John delivers a narrative that functions both as an action-packed adventure and a philosophical reflection on compassion, duty, and truth. Plot Overview The narrative kicks off in September 1978, when Captain Dev Menon and a research team off the coast of Ram Setu uncover manufactured underwater geometry and ancient Sanskrit seals, leading to a disastrous, violent incident that is pro...