Kiran Desai wins Booker Prize - The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Main News

The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Main News: "London, October 11
Kiran Desai, daughter of prominent Indian origin writer Anita Desai, created literary history by becoming the youngest ever woman to win the prestigious Man Booker Prize for her book “The Inheritance of Loss”at the age of 35.

Kiran won the 50,000 pounds prize last night for her second book, described by reviewers as a “radiant, funny and moving family saga” and “the best, sweetest, most delightful novel.”

Three novels by Kiran's mother, Anita Desai - 'Clear Light of Day', 'In Custody' and 'Fasting, Feasting'- had been earlier shortlisted for the prize but failed to make it.

Noted writer Salman Rushdie once described Kiran as a “terrific writer.”

The chairperson of the judges, Hermione Lee, said at the awards dinner at the Guildhall:“We are delighted to announce that the winner of the Man Booker Prize for 2006 is Kiran Desai’s “The Inheritance of Loss,”- a magnificent novel of humane breadth and wisdom, comic tenderness and powerful political acuteness.

“The winner was chosen, after a long, passionate and generous debate, from a shortlist of five other strong and original voices.” Born in India on September 3, 1971, Kiran is a student at Columbia University's Creative Writing Course. Her first novel, “Hullabaloo in the Guava Orchard,” received accolades from many notable figures and an excerpt was featured in the New Yorker India Fiction issue, and in “Mirrorwork,” Salman Rushdie,s controversial anthology of 50 years of Indian writing.

Kiran is the first woman to win the Man Booker since 2000 when Margaret Atwood scooped the prize with “The Blind Assassin”. Kiran was presented the cheque for 50,000 pounds at the awards dinner."