CRITERIA & PROCESS FOR ENTRIES
ENTRIES FOR THE AWARDS WILL BE OPEN BETWEEN MAY 19, 2024, AND JULY 18, 2024.
Literature
- Only books published in the Indian sub-continent will be accepted and considered for the RALJ. The author has to be a resident of India or of Indian origin.
- Reprints will not qualify for these awards unless there is a significant update to the book with a focus on the Indian sub-continent. The same needs to be justified in writing, as part of a covering application letter. The jury’s decision to consider or reject such a submission will be final.
- Translations are welcome, that is books translated from any of the Indian languages into English.
- The minimum length of a book should be 30000 words.
- Publishers are invited to send in entries, not more than two books per category. That is two books under Fiction and two under Non-Fiction.
- For self-published books, authors are welcome to submit only one book. The self-published book must have an ISBN.
Each application in the literature category must follow the stated process which includes the following:
1st. Four copies of the physical book and a covering letter must be submitted / delivered to the address given below. The letter must include:
- The name of the book, the blurb, author’s profile and date of publication
- If the author is a non-resident Indian, details of their PIO / OCI card should be provided as an annexure, in the form of a photocopy.
- The letter must also provide an email and phone contact of the applicant individual or organisation.
2nd. The envelope must state the following:
- On the top in all capitals: The Rainbow Awards for Literature & Journalism
- The line below: State the category – Fiction or Non-Fiction (in Capital letters)
All submissions must be sent on time so as to received and delivered by 6pm, July 18, 2024.
All submissions must be sent on time so as to received and delivered by 6pm, July 18, 2024.
Submissions are to be couriered or delivered through post or by hand to:
The Rainbow Awards For Literature & Journalism,
Kunzum Books,
182 Basement, Jorbagh,
New Delhi 110003
If by hand, the timings are 11:00 a.m. – 7:30 p.m. Daily
WhatsApp Location Pin: https://goo.gl/maps/wcxoS4b7dZjHkQuj9
Directions: The bookstore is located behind a park opposite the Indira Paryavaran Bhawan on the road leading from the Jorbagh metro station to Meharchand Market. Google might take you to a Safal / Mother Dairy outlet. You will notice a small lane along a park just nearby – take that and come to residential building 182.
Please call or WhatsApp +91.8800200268 should you need guidance to get to the store
Journalism
B. Journalism (Articles in the two stated categories published between June 1, 2023, and May 31, 2024)
- Entries are welcome from digital and print media organisations*. Two articles per organisation at maximum.
- In the case of Op-eds, the word length must be a minimum of 600 words.
- Feature write ups should have a minimum length of 1200 words.
- Freelancers may apply too but not more than two applications in total. Each application must include a statement confirming that the applicant has intimated the concerned person/s at the media platform (where the specific write-up originally appeared) about their submission. This is to avoid duplication of entries.
- Each application whether from a media platform or freelancer, must submit the published web link with a PDF version of the article.
- Articles written by residents of India or persons of Indian origin qualify
(including digital platforms that are focused more on views, opinions and research than news. For instance, Gaysi, Gaylaxy, Feminism In India, Homegrown, Queer Beat and the like, qualify as media organisations for these awards. We also include work published in online transnational networks that advocate free expression and thoughts. For instance, Decolonising Sexuality is one such example. International media platforms are not included.)
The submissions for journalism are to be made only via the Google document link provided below
1st. The subject line of the email should state which category is the entry for. Hence, please state Entry for Op-ed or Entry for Feature
2nd. The body text must have the following information (in all capitals):
- – The name / by-line of the writer
- The date of publication
- The name, designation and email of the person who has verified / authenticated the submission
- A link to the article
- The article in a PDF form with all the details stated above (with the exception of the web link)
Please note that only one entry per email.
THE NEXT STEPS
Time for applicants to relax and wait after making their submissions!
A prestigious eight-member jury will assess the submissions and determine the award winners. They will spend up to or around four months reading your submissions, discussing them amongst themselves, before drawing up a shortlist.
The same maybe announced around a month prior to the Award ceremony, meaning by early November, 2024.
The jury will continue its assessments to decide the winners. The winners will be announced at the award ceremony on December 7 or 8, at the Rainbow Lit Fest – Queer & Inclusive, in New Delhi. The decision of the jury, as stated above, will be final.
We would encourage you to follow our social media handles to get updates on the Awards and the Festival. Details on the jury is also available on our website www.therainbowawards.in and www.rainbowliteraturefestival.com, and on our social media handles.
Time for applicants to relax and wait after making their submissions!
A prestigious nine-member jury will assess the submissions and determine the award winners. They will spend up to or around four months reading your submissions, discussing them amongst themselves, before drawing up a longlist.
If there is a longlist, the same maybe announced by the middle or third week of November.
The jury will continue its assessments to decide what the shortlist is. This list will be made public by December 3.
The final winners will be announced at the award ceremony on December 9 or 10, at the Rainbow Lit Fest – Queer & Inclusive, in New Delhi. The decision of the jury, as stated above, will be final.
The winners will receive a citation and a cash reward.
We would encourage you to follow our social media handles to get updates on the Awards and the Festival. Details on the jury is also available on our website www.therainbowawards.in and www.rainbowliteraturefestival.com, and on our social media handles.
