New Delhi, Nov 19:- The Goncourt Choice of India (Choix Goncourt de l’Inde) returns for its fifth edition, bringing together students, teachers, and literature enthusiasts from across India to celebrate contemporary French fiction. Conceived by the Académie Goncourt and coordinated by the French Institute in India (IFI) and the Embassy of France in India, the initiative is supported by Priti Paul, Director, Apeejay Surrendra Group, via the Apeejay Trust. The program continues to strengthen cultural exchange and build a bridge between Indian readers and French authors.
In this edition, students of French from nine Indian universities;The English and Foreign Languages University (EFLU), Pondicherry University, University of Mumbai, Savitribai Phule Pune University, University of Delhi, Jawaharlal Nehru University, University of Rajasthan, Banaras Hindu University, and Panjab University in Chandigarh (participating for the first time)—form the student jury, alongside members of the Alliance Française network. Over five months, they will read and debate the four shortlisted novels for France’s most prestigious literary award, the Prix Goncourt, guided by their teachers and through IFI-facilitated seminars.
Shortlisted titles for the 2025 edition;
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Nathacha Appanah — La Nuit au Cœur (Night at Heart), Gallimard
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Emmanuel Carrère — Kolkhoze, P.O.L
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Caroline Lamarche — Le Bel Obscur (The Beautiful Darkness), Seuil
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Laurent Mauvignier — La Maison Vide (The Empty House), Minuit
At the conclusion of the reading and deliberation process, the student juries will gather for a deliberation lunch at The Park Hotel, part of the Apeejay Surrendra Group. This symbolic event mirrors the Académie Goncourt tradition in Paris, blending the elegance of Indian hospitality with the spirit of French literary dialogue.
The winner of the 2025 Choix Goncourt de l’Inde will be announced in March 2026 at a special ceremony at the Residence of the French Ambassador in New Delhi, attended by representatives from the French Embassy, IFI, and Apeejay Trust. The ceremony will also mark the launch of the program’s next phase: a translation initiative aimed at giving wider reach to French literature in India.
Under the new Apeejay Trust partnership, the program will expand through additional activities. Alongside the university-led literary prize and seminars, an open translation contest will be launched in March 2026, inviting aspiring translators to submit interpretations of excerpts from previous Goncourt-winning novels. The winning translator will receive a publication contract supported by IFI and Apeejay, further strengthening Indo-French collaboration in literature and translation.
Mr. Grégor Trumel, Counsellor for Cooperation and Cultural Affairs, Embassy of France, and Director of the French Institute in India, said:
“I am proud to announce our partnership with the Apeejay Trust, which allows us to take the Choix Goncourt de l’Inde to new heights. Together, we are not only celebrating the literary dialogue between France and India, but also expanding its impact. Thanks to Apeejay’s generous support, the French Institute in India can launch an open translation contest, giving professional translators a platform to showcase their talent and enabling Indian publishers to bring the winning translation to life. Literature nourishes the soul and helps one understand the world and others — and it remains one of life’s greatest pleasures.”
Ms. Priti Paul, Director of Apeejay Surrendra Group, said:
“Our support for the Choix Goncourt de l’Inde is not merely philanthropic; it is a foundational investment in the future of Indo-French literary dialogue. Apeejay Trust and Oxford Bookstores’ commitment to strengthening the cultural and literary connection between India and France is reflected in this strategic alliance with the French Institute in India. By empowering Indian publishers and placing professional translators at the forefront of cultural exchange, we ensure that this initiative leaves a profound and enduring legacy.”
The fifth edition of Choix Goncourt de l’Inde not only showcases the richness of contemporary French literature but also empowers Indian students and translators to play a central role in shaping the future of Indo-French cultural dialogue.