THE WINNER OF the Man Asian Literary Prize will be announced on Saturday and I’m anxious to see who it is: Xu Xi, Jiang Rong, Jose Dalisay Jnr, Reeti Gadekar or Nu Nu Yi Inwa (pictured). I celebrate not only the soon-to-be announced winner, but all five of them for making it this far, and also everyone who made the long list. I feel like a proud mother who has just had quintuplets!
Many people are asking me about the prize, and about the strange politics that have gone on behind it. I have deliberately kept reference to it out of this column, because it is important that the focus goes on the writers, not on the backstage shenanigans.
But I wouldn’t want anyone to think I am hiding something, so here’s the situation in a few paragraphs.
The concept for the prize – an award for manuscripts unpublished in English – did come from me, and I was the main speaker at the presentation at which we got the green light from Man Group plc. But one other member of the team, Peter Gordon, wanted to play a senior role in managing the prize. That was absolutely fine with me. I am inclusive by nature, and will never turn down offers of help.
But he shortly afterwards informed me that he had set up a separate organization, chaired by himself, and I was forbidden to play any role in it whatsoever. As his arrangements progressed, it became apparent that it was going to be a lock-out situation, strictly expats only, with no Asian authors involved in any significant roles in administration or judging.
This was not good.
Not only was it racially and culturally insensitive, but it raised some massive issues: Asian story arcs differ significantly from Western ones. Our narrative traditions are also totally different. And modern Asian story conventions are simply not the same as classic ones, nor Western ones, nor do they trace their roots to the Greek drama form which is the bedrock of Western tale-spinning. I failed miserably to get any of the organizers to understand these issues or take them seriously.
*
The incredible hostility of Gordon and his people have surprised many in the book industry. I have notes from folk involved (including from the judging and nominees list) saying “see you at the announcement party”. But the fact is, I’m not invited (although they’re still using my concept as the prize rubric). No doubt they will get huge enjoyment from this, picturing me standing forlornly outside the party. Er, sorry guys. Enjoy your gin and tonics! I shall be busy mentoring some of the 152 young Asian authors I have on my books at the moment. After all, isn't that what this is all supposed to be about?
*
On a lighter note, some Indian friends of mine were disappointed, to say the least, at how the lack of understanding of Asian literature in the way the prize is being run, and also with the poor marketing of the prize. So they have set up a website (I gave them a tiny piece of cyberspace real estate) to celebrate the authors. Their open-discussion site is doing a good job of complementing the official prize site, without duplicating it, and there’s a lively debate going on there. If you have time, take a look.