Prof. S. Sivadas and Deepa Balsavar announced as Winners of the Big Little Book Award 2021

The Big Little Book Award (BLBA), a first-of-its-kind award by the Parag initiative of Tata Trusts was instituted with an intent to celebrate and recognise notable work in children’s literature

Kochi, 9th December, 2021: The Big Little Book Award (BLBA) presented by Tata Trusts’ Parag initiative today announced Prof. S. Sivadas and Deepa Balsavar as winners for their significant contribution to children’s literature in Indian language(s). Driven with a purpose to ensure every child experiences the joys of reading and reading good children’s books, BLBA serves as a platform connecting young readers, parents, schools and publishers with talented authors and illustrators.

This year marked the sixth edition of the BLBA and received 490 entries during the nomination period from May to June 2021. Malayalam was the chosen language this year for the author category, while the illustration category accepted nominations in any language. Winners were selected for their contribution to Indian children’s literature with stories that talk to young readers about who they are and help them navigate a multicultural and multilingual environment.

Winner from the author category, Prof. S. Sivadas based out of Kottayam, has over two hundred books to his name.  Inspired by his childhood memories, love for nature and deep commitment to science, his work has stood out significantly in the children’s literature canon in Malayalam. He shared, “I am very happy to receive the Big Little Book Award by the Parag Initiative of Tata Trusts. I value the tradition of Tata Group and the wonderful work done by Parag and so feel proud to be associated with it, in this way. This I believe, is a new beginning in my career as a children’s writer and communicator.”

Speaking about the winning author, the jury, which includes Greystroke, Dr. M. M Basheer, Paul Zacharia, Sherylene Rafeeque and Suneetha Balakrishnan, collectively shared, “S. Sivadas exemplifies a rare commitment to both the art and craft of writing for children. This is evident in the sheer range of genres and subjects he has covered in his body of work spanning over the last 50 years. He stands tall as a pioneer of scientific knowledge in children’s literature.”

Mumbai-born artist Deepa Balsavar, winner in the illustrator category, grew up loving animals and books and drawing. She wanted to become a vet but went to art college instead. She decided that if she couldn’t treat animals, she would write and draw stories about them, and about people and the world. Deepa adds, “To make books for children is both a privilege and a huge responsibility. This award gives me courage and hope to continue doing what I do. When we get children to read and think, we give them the tools to take charge of their lives and change their worlds.”

Speaking about the winning illustrator, the jury, which includes Aashti Mudnani, Proiti Roy,Rani Dharker, Sunandini Banerjee and Thejaswi Shivanan, collectively shared, “Deepa’s illustrations represent diversity, compassion and sensitivity without losing the playfulness and charm that appeal to children and adults effortlessly. Her eye for detail is remarkable, and the scope and scale astonishing. Her delicate balance between colour, image and expression is outstanding, and has been a hallmark of all her works.”

Amrita Patwardhan, Head- Education, Tata Trusts shared, “Original, engaging, quality children’s literature in Indian languages is critical for developing a reading culture and meeting educational goals. The 6th edition of Big Little Book Award for authors and illustrators is our way to celebrate outstanding contribution by committed artists who have made a difference to this important sector. We congratulations the winners and look forward to wider dissemination of their work.”

About the Award

The Big Little Book Award was instituted by Parag to recognize and honour the significant contribution of authors and illustrators to children’s literature in Indian language(s). Instituted since 2016, the award is given under two categories –author and illustrator/artist. Every year, one Indian language is chosen for awarding an author. The language for 2021 is Malayalam. Authors writing extensively for children in Malayalam but not limited to it are eligible for nomination. The award for illustrator is not language specific and nominations can come from across languages. The Big Little Book Award aims to create a platform for young readers, parents, schools, publishers and other stakeholders to meet and read the work of authors/illustrators. The goal is to ensure every child experiences the joys of reading and reading good children’s books.

About Tata Trusts

Since inception in 1892, Tata Trusts, India’s oldest philanthropic organisation, has played a pioneering role in bringing about an enduring difference in the lives of the communities it serves. Guided by the principles and the vision of proactive philanthropy of the Founder, Jamsetji Tata, the Trusts’ purpose is to catalyse development in the areas of health, nutrition, education, water, sanitation and hygiene, livelihood, digital transformation, migration and urban habitat, social justice and inclusion, environment and energy, skill development, sports, and arts and culture. The Trusts’ programmes, achieved through direct implementation, partnerships and grant making, are marked by innovations relevant to the country.

About Winner  Author category

Prof. S. Sivadas was born in 1940 in Vaikom, Kottayam. He has written over two hundred books over the last fifty years. Inspired by his childhood memories, love for nature and deep commitment to science, his work has stood out significantly in the children’s literature canon in Malayalam. He served as a Professor of Chemistry in CMS College, Kottayam till his retirement in 1995. S. Sivadas writes on popular science, contemporary ecology, short stories, novels and other fictional tales with an emphasis on scientific outlook. He is a recipient of multiple awards like Kerala Sahitya Akademi awards, Kairali Book Trust awards and lifetime achievement award from the Association of Writers and Illustrators for Children (AIWC) among others.

About Winner Illustration Category

Deepa Balsavar was born in the big city of Mumbai and grew up loving animals and books and drawing. She wanted to become a vet but went to art college instead. She decided that if she couldn’t treat animals, she would write and draw stories about them, and about people and the world. She lives amidst dogs and cats, and will soon begin teaching at IDC School of Design, IIT Bombay. Deepa believes that a person’s happiness is connected to the happiness of everything around – every person regardless of who they are or where they come from, and every plant or animal that we share our earth with. The path to ‘happily ever after’ has demons and obstacles, but she dreams of a future where all children are equal, safe, cherished and free to pursue their dreams; where there are green forests, clean water and wide, open spaces to run.

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