Meet Our Wingword Poetry Prize Winners
Every name here started with a single line in a notebook. From engineering students to retired civil servants, these poets prove that your voice has a place on our stage.
We congratulate Prantik Banerjee, who won the first prize of ₹50,000. An educator and seasoned writer, his powerful poem "Stand Alone" truly stood out.
Meet Ilina Sinha from Guwahati, Assam, who won the first prize of ₹50,000 for her poem 'Dear Baba'. A PhD student and a poet, she writes in both English and the endangered language of Bishnupriya Manipuri.
Neelima Chakraborty from Faridabad, Haryana, secured the second prize of ₹30,000. An educator and nature lover, her work reflects a deep connection to her surroundings.
Satish Pendharkar, a retired Civil Servant from Mumbai, won the third prize of ₹25,000. His poems and stories have been featured in numerous literary magazines.
First prize winner Surabhi Naik with her husband in New Delhi to receive her award. Surabhi is a poet and designer interested in using poetry for documentary and transmedia expression.
A short documentary featuring Deepak, the first prize winner in our Hindi Regional Category. We visited him to learn about his writing journey, which started on platforms like Haiku Jam and YourQuote.
Watch Jaya Mishra, second prize winner in the Regional Category, perform her moving Hindi poem at the Wingword Ceremony in New Delhi. Her work is inspired by mythology and nature.
Satya Deo Pathak, our third prize winner in the Regional Category, performs his nostalgic poem 'था वो बचपन' at the award ceremony. An engineer by profession, he is a creative and spontaneous poet.
Our winner Bibhusha Rai's poem 'Darjeeling Tea' was featured in Feminism in India. Her work brings to light the exploitation of tea plantation workers, showing how poetry can be a tool for awareness.
An interview with Tialila Kikon from Nagaland, a Top 30 Prizewinner from 2019. An accomplished author and educator, her success shows the long term impact of the Wingword prize.
About Our Esteemed Winners
It is not just about the cash prize. Whether you write in English, Hindi, or a regional language like Bishnupriya Manipuri, our judges look for the soul of the story rather than just technical perfection. We have seen winners go from writing on platforms like YourQuote to getting published and speaking at national universities.
Your Words Matter
We believe that poetry makes us human. That is why our Wingword Poetry Prize is designed to be accessible to everyone, from the gali ka ladka to the college topper. We do not restrict themes, and we actively encourage submissions in multiple Indian languages because we know your truth is best expressed in your mother tongue.
The Impact of Winning
When we celebrate these winners, we are celebrating more than a single poem. The grand prize winners take home cash awards and secure solo book publication deals, while hundreds of other participants see their work featured in our annual anthologies. This recognition provides a vital boost for emerging writers looking to build a literary career or simply get their work out of a notebook and into the world.
Why Participate?
We run two cycles every year, so there is always a fresh opportunity to participate. You do not need to be a professional author to submit your work. In fact, many of our past winners started as students, doctors, or homemakers who simply decided to take a chance. We handle the publishing and the promotion, giving you a platform to find your audience. If you have been waiting for a sign to share your work, this is it. Let us help you give wings to your words.
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