GUWAHATI: Author Chandana Pathak has publicly declined the Nakul Chandra Memorial Award, recently bestowed upon her book "Panthshala." Pathak, in a social media post on Monday, February 3, expressed surprise at receiving the award, as neither she nor her publisher had submitted the book for consideration.
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In a post shared on social media, Pathak raised several concerns regarding the award and its selection process. She clarified that "Panthshala" is not a children's book, contradicting the category for which it received the award. She questioned the judgment of the selection committee and highlighted the lack of recognition for deserving children's literature authors in Assam, despite the growing number of talented writers in the field.
Further adding to her concerns, Pathak pointed out a discrepancy in the award process. Her book, published in 2022 by Purbayan Publishing, was listed as a manuscript in the award announcement, dated 2025. She described this as "a big comedy" and expressed disappointment with the Assam Sahitya Sabha, the organisation behind the award.
Pathak emphasised that she values reader feedback over awards and that the entire situation has caused her mental distress. She reiterated her refusal of the award, stating that it felt insulting to both her and her work.
