The Armory Square Prize for South Asian Literature in Translation was created to inspire new directions for translators into English from one of the most diverse, historically complex, and culturally vibrant regions of the world. It awards a talented translator of South Asian literature into English with the publication of their outstanding manuscript.

This award is groundbreaking. It aims to remedy the stark disparities in literary translation worldwide, while cultivating a new generation of literary translators working with South Asian languages and recognizing storytellers from the Indian Subcontinent within the broader literary ecosystem. 

The competition is open to translators of literature—including any book-length work of narrative prose, fiction, or nonfiction—written by a South Asian author in a language other than English. The jury brings together award-winning specialists in South Asian and non-South Asian literary translation from across the world. The prize is sponsored by Armory Square Ventures.

Application Timeline

July 28, 2022    Prize launched and application opens 

January 31, 2023    Deadline for entries

March 2023         Shortlist announced (Words without Borders publishes excerpts)

April 2023         Inaugural prize winner announced

September 2023     Final manuscript delivered

Fall 2024         Open Letter publishes prize-winning book

Eligibility

Translator eligibility: Open to any translator of literature written by a South Asian author in a language other than English. 

Works considered: Any previously unpublished book-length translation of narrative prose, fiction or nonfiction, including story collections, written by a South Asian author (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Maldives, or part of the diaspora), living or dead.

Retranslations are eligible. The translator must make a detailed and specific case for why the work needs to be retranslated. Novellas are also eligible provided they are a minimum of 30,000 words.

Note: South Asia is frequently/generally defined as these countries, and we will also consider translations of South Asia diaspora writers. That said, projects that do not necessarily fall under these rubrics but have a well-reasoned argument for being considered 'South Asia' are welcomed as well. Applicants are invited to make a case for projects that fall outside of the above rubrics. 

Required materials

1. A 1-2 page, single-spaced statement outlining the work and describing its importance.

2. A biography and bibliography of the original author, including information on translations of their work into other languages.

3. A CV of the translator, no longer than 3 pages.

4. If the book is not in the public domain, please include a photocopy of the copyright notice on the original, and a letter from the copyright holder stating that English-language rights to the book are available. 

5. A letter from the copyright holder giving permission for a brief excerpt on Words Without Borders should the submission be shortlisted. 

6. An 8–10 page, single-spaced sample of the translation. For prose, this should be within the range of 3,000-5,000 words.

7. The same passage in the original language (and, if the work has been previously translated, the same passage in the earlier version with a statement that makes a detailed and specific case for why the work needs to be retranslated).

8. A detailed plan on how the project will be completed and manuscript delivered in the 5-6 month timeframe after the prize announcement. 

Judging criteria 

1. Quality of the translation

2. Significance of the original work

3. Relative degree of underrepresentation of the original language

The Prize jury will first and foremost consider the quality of the translation, paying particular attention to creative and artful solutions the translator has found to address the translation challenges posed by the work. The jury will also consider the significance of the original work and its author, and the extent to which the language and author are underrepresented in English.