Jeet Thayil's novel 'Narcopolis' wins DSC prize

Kerala born Jeeth Thayil, a multitalented personality who is crowned as an Indian poet, novelist, performer and musician had made name being the first Indian to win the prestigious DCS prize for South Asian Literature held at the Jaipur Literature Festival. His debut novel 'Narcopolis' which has earlier been shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize 2012, had become the point of focus getting award which include a cash prize of $50,000. The novel set at the backdrops of Old Bombay in 1970's narrates his own personal experience.

Bombay being the cradle of intoxication which includes drugs, alcohol, glamour, power and money, Jeeth decided to give the title as 'Narcopolis'. Headed by K Satchidandan, a five member jury was appointed to select the winner. From among the 80 entries from various writers representing countries in South Asia, Narcopolis' was declared the sole winner taking over the works of Pakisthani authors Jamil Ahmed, Mohammed Hanif, Bangladeshi writer Tahmima Anam Uday Prakash and Amitav Ghosh representing India.

Most interestingly the novel had also been shortlisted for the prestigious Man Booker Prize 2012 with the jury admiring his work and giving positive feedback. The cream of his novel tells about the secret history of Bombay along with life of the people. With critics branding it as the 'disturbing tale of Mumbai', Narcopolis was written to show the real life of people who fell into the opium dens and narcotice underbelly of Bombay and was not able to recover from it.

He became the third person to win the award after being introduced by the DCS Limited in 2010. The prime award was given to Pakistani writer H.M. Naqvi for "Home Boy followed by Sri Lankan author Shehan Karunatilake' s novel "Chinaman".

Jeeth Thayil, the son of writer TJS George even born in Kerala, being a journalist had to spend rest of his life in various places in India along with New York and Hong Kong.