Parag’s Annual flagship event advances recognition and access to quality children’s literature in India through various awards.
New Delhi, 19 December 2025: Parag, an initiative of Tata Trusts, hosted Parag Utsav 2025 at the India International Centre, recognising publishers, authors and illustrators that shape the literary landscape for the country’s young readers. This edition introduced new awards - Parag Author Prize, Parag Illustrator Prize, and Parag Children’s Choice Award, alongside the 6th edition of Parag Honour List (PHL) and the Big Little Book Award (BLBA) for significant contribution by illustrators.
Speaking at Parag Utsav, Amrita Patwardhan, Head – Education, Tata Trusts said, “At the Tata Trusts, we see reading as a foundational capability that shapes how children learn and engage with the world. Parag Utsav reflects our long-term commitment to ensuring that every child, wherever they live, has access to meaningful and engaging literature. Through Parag, we continue to strengthen the children’s literature ecosystem in India so that early exposure to books sparks curiosity, builds confidence, and nurtures a lifelong relationship with reading.”
Delivering the Keynote address, Padma Shri Krishna Kumar, former Director of NCERT, said “The significance of words in the world of children can be understood only with the help of children’s literature. This initiative that Parag has undertaken, to annually identify the best books written for children and to honour them publicly, is, in itself, a very big initiative for today’s times. The ongoing effort to support various publishers and institutions carries the idea that certain benchmarks should also be established in the field of children’s literature, so that we can understand which book is better and why.”
In a first for Parag, the Parag Children’s Choice Award 2025 was introduced, placing children at the centre of literary appreciation. About 7,750 children from 113 libraries across 9 states and a union territory, participated in the selection process, sharing their preferences and reflections. The winning title, Aada Paada (Publisher: Eklavya; Author: Sushil Shukla; Illustrator: Atanu Roy; Language: Hindi), stood out for its playful, disarming approach to an everyday subject often treated with shyness and discomfort. BLBA renamed as Parag Significant Contribution Award 2025, went to Taposhi Ghoshal for her decades-long visual storytelling across languages and regions. Reflecting on her work, the jury noted “Taposhi’s commendable body of work continues to captivate, enrich and serve as a lighthouse for Indian children’s illustrators to derive inspiration and flourish in the years ahead.” The Parag Author Prize 2025 (Hindi) was awarded to Priyamvad for his extraordinary literary voice and prolific contribution to children’s literature. And the Parag Illustrator Prize 2025 was presented to Rishi Sahany for his inventive visual language across animations, illustrations and designs.
The Parag Honour List 2025 announced 61 outstanding books: 33 in English and 28 in Hindi, selected through a rigorous, year-long jury-led process. The list has been meticulously curated by two distinguished juries, one for English and the other for Hindi. PHL remains a trusted guide for parents, teachers, libraries and young readers seeking quality children’s books across themes, genres and age groups.
Parag Utsav 2025 reaffirmed Tata Trusts’ long-standing commitment to strengthening the ecosystem of children’s literature. Through its recognitions, curated lists, library partnerships, and capacity-building programmes, Parag continues to champion a vibrant and inclusive culture of joyful reading across India.
Click here to view the Parag Honour List, know more about the winners, jury and Children’s Choice Book: https://www.paragreads.in.
