Upamanyu Chatterjee wins JCB Prize for Literature 2024 for ‘Lorenzo Searches for the Meaning of Life’

Upamanyu Chatterjee’s novel was chosen as the winner from a shortlist of six books, which included: ‘Sanatan’ by Sharankumar Limbale and translated by Paromita Sengupta, ‘Chronicle of an Hour and a Half’ by Saharu Nusaiba Kannanari, ‘The One Legged’ by Sakyajit Bhattacharya and translated by Rituparna Mukherjee, and ‘Maria, Just Maria’ by Sandhya Mary and translated by Jayasree Kalathil.
The award was handed over on behalf of Lord Bamford, Chairman, JCB by Deepak Shetty, CEO & MD, JCB India. Speaking at the event, Mr Shetty said, “The JCB Prize for Literature was conceptualised by Lord Bamford to celebrate the Indian-ness of
Indian literature. Over the years this award has attracted some of the most eclectic mix of works and this year has been no different. Congratulations to Upamanyu Chatterjee’s ‘Lorenzo Searches for the Meaning of Life’ on behalf of the entire JCB Family.”
He added, “There is so much that contemporary Indian literature in regional languages has to offer to the readers. Publishers play a key role in supporting and promoting high-quality translations so that these works are accessible to both old and young readers through platforms that suit their preferences. India’s evolving approach to both writing and consuming literature promise some exciting reading experiences ahead.”
Published by Speaking Tiger Books‘Lorenzo Searches for the Meaning of Life’ follows the life of Lorenzo Senesi as he discovers God and in the process, himself too. In 1977, when he was just 19, Lorenzo has an accident in Italy wherein he breaks his forearm. He spends a month in bedrest, recuperating and that’s when he starts thinking about life and God. After recovering, he enrols in a physiotherapy course while also joining a prayer group, and visiting a Benedictine monastery near Padua. This monastery becomes his home for the next 10 years, and later he moves to Benedictine ashram in Bangladesh where he spends many years. While leading a humble life there, he unexpectedly falls in love discovers that a life of service to God is enough, however, it is also not enough.
On winning the award, Upamanyu Chatterjee said, “I would like to thank a few people for this award: firstly, JCB for its generosity and for organising this stress-free event. Ravi Singh, Renuka Chatterjee and the team at Speaking Tiger for publishing my books. I must thank the jury members for their good taste. And I must also not forget to thank two people who aren’t here– one my wife, because she was the one who gave me the idea for ‘Lorenzo…’, and Fabelicio– a friend of ours whose story it is.” Talking about his book, he added, “Even when I was writing this book, I was thinking it is a hell of a boring book. But it seems to have worked!”

The jury for JCB Prize for Literature 2024 included: author-translator Jerry Pinto (Chair), art historian-curator Deepthi Sashidharan, scholar-writer-translator Tridip Suhrud, filmmaker-writer Shaunak Sen, and artist Aqui Thami.
Praising the book, Jerry Pinto, Chair of Jury, said, “Upamanyu Chatterjee’s ‘Lorenzo Searches for the Meaning of Life’ is a tour de force that takes us into the depths of a man’s soul and across the varied geographies of faith and reason. It is a book to be read and re-read for its ambition and its achievement.”
Started in 2018, this was the seventh edition of JCB Prize for Literature.