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Amitav Ghosh to receive Brooklyn literary award
Brooklyn Book Festival honors acclaimed Indian author for literary contributions exploring environmentalism and post-colonial themes.
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Pranavi Sharma - Thu, 16, Jul 2026
- 03:07 EDT
- 14
Amitav Ghosh / Wikipedia
Award-winning Indian author Amitav Ghosh has been named the recipient of the 2026 Best of Brooklyn (BoBi) Award, the Brooklyn Book Festival announced. The annual honor recognizes an author whose work "best exemplifies or speaks to the spirit of Brooklyn." Ghosh will be honored at the festival's annual awards ceremony in September.
The Brooklyn Book Festival said Ghosh was selected for his "thought-provoking narratives, dedication to environmentalism, and themes of post-colonialism." The BoBi Award is presented each year to an author whose work reflects or embodies the spirit of Brooklyn.
ALSO READ: Amitav Ghosh's manuscript sealed in Norway
Responding to the announcement on X, Ghosh said he was "delighted" to receive the honor and reflected on his long association with the New York City borough.
"Delighted to be the 2026 recipient of the Best of Brooklyn (BoBi) award, which is presented 'each year to an author whose work best exemplifies or speaks to the spirit of Brooklyn'," Ghosh wrote.
He added that his nearly three decades in Brooklyn had shaped him both personally and professionally.
"In the 28 years I've lived in Brooklyn — within a stone's throw of the house where Richard Wright wrote 'Native Son' — I've learned more from my neighbors and community then I could ever properly account for!" he wrote.
The Brooklyn Book Festival describes the BoBi Award as one of its signature honors, presented annually to authors whose work reflects the character and values of Brooklyn. The festival is New York City's largest free literary festival and brings together local, national and international authors, publishers and readers over the course of a week of literary programming.
According to the festival, its mission is to celebrate published literature and foster a literary community by connecting readers of diverse backgrounds with authors, publishers and booksellers. It hosts free and low-cost public events, including the main Brooklyn Book Festival, Children's Day and Bookend events held across the city.
Launched in 2006 as a one-day event, the festival has expanded into an eight-day program featuring citywide literary events, Festival Day with about 300 authors, a Literary Marketplace with roughly 250 independent and major publishers, and Children's Day, which focuses on encouraging reading among young audiences.
The festival says it is known for showcasing both established and emerging writers while providing a platform for dialogue across cultures and literary traditions. Its guiding credo is "hip, smart and diverse."
Ghosh, whose work often examines environmental issues and the legacies of colonialism, will receive the 2026 BoBi Award during the festival's annual awards ceremony in September.
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