All India Poetry Prize
おーるいんでぃあししょう
All India Poetry Prize (All India Poetry Competition) organized by The Poetry Society (India). A nationwide poetry competition targeting English original poems and English translations of poems, started in 1988.
- Established
- 1988
- Organizer
- The Poetry Society (India) (Organizer). Sponsors: British Council (until 2000), MHRD (co-host from 2013)
- Category
- Research, Translation, and Scholarship
- Selection Method
- Open call
- Target
- Open
- Frequency
- Irregular (approximately once a year in the past)
- Status
- Ended
Description
Nationwide poetry competition conducted by The Poetry Society (India) since 1988. Eligible entries include original English poems and poems translated into English from India's official languages, judged blindly (anonymously) by prominent poets from India and abroad. Sponsored by the British Council from the 1990s to 2000, but suspended from 2000 to 2013, and resumed from 2013 as co-hosted with MHRD (equivalent to the then Ministry of Education) and others. Past winners include Vijay Nambisan (1988), Rukmini Bhaya Nair (1990), Ranjit Hoskote (1997), Gopikrishnan Kottoor (2017), etc.
Prize
- Main Prize
- Multiple grades such as 1st Prize, 2nd Prize, 3rd Prize, etc. (English category, Hindi category, etc., depending on the year)
Selection
Selection Process
| Stage | Judges | Pass Rate | Announcement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Application acceptance | The Poetry Society (India) accepts submissions (original English works and English translations) | — | Entry requirements are announced on the official website |
| Anonymous judging (blind) | Prominent poets from India and abroad conduct the judging. Entrants' identities are concealed | — | Finalists are selected after primary and secondary screenings |
| Winner selection and announcement | The judging committee makes the final decision | — | Officially announced by The Poetry Society (India) and published in the media |
Criteria
- Originality
- Expressive power and strength of imagery
- Linguistic technique and degree of completion
- For translated works: poetic quality of the translation and fidelity to the original
- Suitability to the theme and impact of the work
Application Tips
Dos
- Always check the entry requirements and format
- Remove personal information such as name from the manuscript (anonymous judging)
- Submit original and unpublished poems
- For translation works, clearly indicate the original text and translator information, and enhance the quality of the translation
- Meet the deadline and submit in the specified format
Don''ts
- Do not plagiarize others' works
- Do not include entrant identification information in the body text
- Do not submit in formats or files that violate the entry rules
- Avoid distorting the original intent in translations
- Do not make duplicate entries across multiple categories or violate regulations
From Judges
- Value original perspectives and striking imagery
- Carefully refine word choice and sonority (poetic rhythm)
- For translated works, preserve the original's voice and poetic effects as much as possible
- Be conscious of deep exploration of the theme and expressions that leave a lingering aftertaste
Related Awards
- All India Poetry Competition for schools conducted by The Poetry Society (India)
- Awards related to Sahitya Akademi
- Literary activities by Manipuri Sahitya Parishad
- Poetry-related programs by British Council