Connect with us

News Wire

Best-selling author Aparna Piramal Raje and Himalayan Writing Retreat launch fellowship to encourage and support ‘lived experiences’ and other Indian non-fiction

Amid the serenity of the Himalayas, an exceptional opportunity for aspiring authors to refine their craft, with a possible pathway to publication with Penguin.

NAINITAL, India, Dec. 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — The Himalayan Writing Retreat (HWR) announces the launch of the ‘HWR Khozem Merchant Non-Fiction Fellowship’. This prestigious initiative stands out in how it will help Indian writers. The Fellowship includes world-class mentorship, a tranquil and stimulating residency, financial support and the possibility of being published by Penguin, one of the leading publishing houses in the country.

The Fellowship has been endowed by Aparna Piramal Raje, the author of India’s best-selling memoir on mental health, Chemical Khichdi. The fellowship is named after Khozem Merchant, a mentor to many who have struggled to turn ideas into sparkling prose, chapters and storytelling. 

“This fellowship is a tribute to Khozem’s impact on my writing journey,” says Aparna, “and is a step towards empowering new voices in the field of non-fiction.”

“This touching and generous gesture is India at its best and I’m confident it will give way to the best of Indian non-fiction,” said Khozem.

Penguin Random House India (PRHI) is the Publishing Partner of this fellowship. PRH will be involved in the selection of the fellows and will have first access to review the written work and the opportunity to offer publishing deals to some or all of the selected fellows. “We, at Penguin Random House India, are constantly in search of fresh new voices and writing talent, and we are proud to come on board this transformative fellowship, nurturing authentic voices and discovering impactful non-fiction. We’re excited to champion courageous and thought-provoking writing that has the potential to shape India’s literary landscape,” said Milee Ashwarya, Publisher-Adult Publishing, Penguin Random House India.

HWR is a retreat in every sense: nature, birdsong, and the view of snow-capped mountains are a muse to many. Ideas, stories and creators thrive here. HWR hosts many events, courses and residencies and esteemed experts like film director Shekhar Kapoor and authors Annie Zaidi and Gurcharan Das teach there.

“We want to give writers who have unique ideas or stories the guidance and space to bring them to completion,” says Chetan Mahajan, co-founder of the Himalayan Writing Retreat. With this fellowship HWR hopes to incubate great books by writers from diverse backgrounds and ethnicity.

The patrons are especially keen to host writers who want to convert their lived experiences into well-written books. In that sense this Fellowship is a reward for courage, “which we want to institutionalize,” says Aparna. “We’re offering this Fellowship because courage needs an ally,” adds Chetan.

The fellowship offers:

Exclusive Training: Fellows will participate in a 3-day masterclass with celebrated author Jerry Pinto in May 2025.

Residency in the Himalayas: A 21-day immersive residency will allow writers to focus on their craft, without distraction, in the serene Himalayan environment from July 13 to August 3, 2025.

Financial Support: Each Fellow will receive INR 50,000 upon completion of the residency, along with an INR 20,000 travel stipend.

Collaborative Environment:  During the residency, Fellows work together as a cohort which will include a French writer-in-residence under the Villa Swagatam Indo-French cultural exchange program.

Application Details

The Fellowship is open to Indian citizens and residents aged 25 and above, working on long-form non-fiction narratives. One can apply now. Applications close on February 10, 2025.

In 2025, three Fellows will be selected based on the quality of their work and their commitment to the program. This selection will be made by the HWR team along with editors from Penguin Random House.

The Fellowship will culminate on April 30, 2026, when Fellows are expected to submit their completed manuscript to Penguin Random House.

For more information, visit https://www.himalayanwritingretreat.com/khozem-merchant-non-fiction-fellowship/  or contact us at info@himalayanwritingretreat.com.

About the Himalayan Writing Retreat

Nestled 6,500 feet above sea level, the Himalayan Writing Retreat is a haven for creative souls, especially writers seeking inspiration and solitude. With a proven track record of nurturing creative talent, HWR offers workshops, residencies, and resources for writers and creators.

HWR’s various events and initiatives include:

–  Upcoming workshops and courses

–  The Himalayan Emerging Writers Residency

–  The HWR Writers’ Book Club

–  The HWR First Draft Club

About Aparna Piramal Raje

Aparna Piramal Raje, a writer, public speaker and author of Chemical Khichdi: How I Hacked My Mental Health and Working Out of the Box: 40 Stories of Leading CEOs.

About Khozem Merchant

Khozem Merchant was for two decades a journalist with Financial Times; he remains a guiding force for many young aspiring authors and journalists. His legacy includes fostering talent and shaping impactful narratives. His mentorship deeply influenced Aparna Piramal Raje, inspiring the Fellowship named in his honor.

About Penguin Random House India

Penguin Random House India publishes over 250 new titles every year and has an active backlist of over 3000 titles. With a strong fiction and non-fiction list, it publishes across every segment including biography, travel, business, politics, history, religion and philosophy, lifestyle, cookery, health and fitness, sports and leisure, visual books, and children’s books. The children’s titles are published under the Puffin imprint.

Penguin Random House India’s illustrious list includes Booker Prize-winning novels and winners of virtually every major literary prize, including the Nobel Prize, the Magsaysay Award, the Jnanpith Award, the Sahitya Akademi Award, and the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize. Several of PRHI’s authors are also recipients of the Bharat Ratna and the Padma Vibhushan, India’s highest civilian honours. 

Penguin Random House India is also the exclusive distribution partner for several leading local and international publishing houses in India and the sub-continent.

Contact:

Debdatta Dasgupta

info@himalayanwritingretreat.com

+91-73035-16665

Photo: https://oyefilmy.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/best-selling-author-aparna-piramal-raje-and-himalayan-writing-retreat-launch-fellowship-to-encourage-and-support-lived-experiences-and-other-indian-non-fiction-1.jpg

Photo: https://oyefilmy.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/best-selling-author-aparna-piramal-raje-and-himalayan-writing-retreat-launch-fellowship-to-encourage-and-support-lived-experiences-and-other-indian-non-fiction-2.jpg

Logo: https://oyefilmy.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/best-selling-author-aparna-piramal-raje-and-himalayan-writing-retreat-launch-fellowship-to-encourage-and-support-lived-experiences-and-other-indian-non-fiction-3.jpg

 

Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/in/news-releases/best-selling-author-aparna-piramal-raje-and-himalayan-writing-retreat-launch-fellowship-to-encourage-and-support-lived-experiences-and-other-indian-non-fiction-302330103.html

Continue Reading
Advertisement
Click to comment

You must be logged in to post a comment Login

Leave a Reply

News Wire

Reliance Digital Introduces High-Performance iQOO 15R to its Nationwide Store Network

MUMBAI, India, March 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Reliance Digital announces the offline retail availability of iQOO, the high-performance smartphone brand built for today’s youth and tech-forward consumers. Following strong traction in online channels, iQOO is now extending its presence into physical retail, allowing customers to experience and purchase its devices first-hand at Reliance Digital stores across India.

Known for pushing the boundaries of speed, and power, the iQOO 15R is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5, delivering exceptional speed, responsiveness, and sustained performance throughout the day. It packs iQOO’s biggest battery yet in an ultra-slim 7.90mm design, making it India’s slimmest smartphone with a 7600 mAh battery.

The device features a 6.5K IceCore VC Cooling Chamber for stable performance and runs on OriginOS 6.0 based on Android 16 out of the box, supported by 4 years of software updates and 6 years of security updates. It is also equipped with a Sony LYT-700V OIS camera, a 1.5K 144Hz AMOLED EyeCare display, and IP68 & IP69 dust and water resistance, making it a dependable daily partner for professionals on the go.

The brand’s offline expansion marks an important step in deepening consumer engagement by offering hands-on access to its devices, enabling customers to explore iQOO’s powerful performance, advanced display technology, and flagship-grade camera capabilities in a real-world retail environment.

The availability of iQOO at Reliance Digital brings together two brands driven by innovation and consumer experience. While iQOO continues to build its reputation as a performance-led smartphone brand, Reliance Digital strengthens its portfolio by offering customers access to cutting-edge technology brands through its extensive nationwide retail network.

Through engaging in-store experiences, knowledgeable staff, and immersive product demonstrations, Reliance Digital aims to help consumers better understand iQOO’s performance-first DNA. This move further reinforces Reliance Digital’s commitment to staying ahead of evolving consumer preferences and serving as a preferred destination for discovering new-age technology.

With this expansion, Reliance Digital continues to play a key role in shaping India’s consumer electronics landscape by bringing future-ready brands closer to customers, while enabling smartphone brands like iQOO to build stronger connections with a growing, performance-driven audience.

The all new iQOO 15R is now available at Reliance Digital stores nationwide.

Photo: https://oyefilmy.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/reliance-digital-introduces-high-performance-iqoo-15r-to-its-nationwide-store-network-1.jpg

 

Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/in/news-releases/reliance-digital-introduces-high-performance-iqoo-15r-to-its-nationwide-store-network-302711079.html

Continue Reading

News Wire

Kotak Alts announces winner of the inaugural Katalyst Awards

Ms Himani Choudhary named Katalyst for the year – India’s Best Financial Content Creator; wins Rs. 25 Lakhs

MUMBAI, India, March 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Kotak Katalyst Awards, a national initiative instituted to recognise excellence and responsibility in financial content creation has announced the winner of its first Katalyst edition. Kotak Alternate Asset Managers Limited (“Kotak Alts”) today announced Himani Choudhary as the winner. The winner was awarded a prize of INR 25 Lakhs, positioning Katalyst among the most meaningful recognitions for financial content creators in India.

Srini Sriniwasan, Managing Director, Kotak Alts, said, “The Kotak Alts Katalyst Awards were instituted to recognize content creators who are contributing meaningfully to financial literacy in India. As investor participation deepens, audiences are seeking clarity, context, and credibility. The response from creators was overwhelming and points to the new generation of financial educators.  As the inaugural winner Ms. Himani Chaudhary, exemplifies the standard of financial communication that Katalyst seeks to encourage.”

The first edition of the Kotak Alts Katalyst Awards received over six hundred entries from across 19 states and in 8 languages, reflecting the growing role of digital creators in shaping financial awareness. Conceived in response to increasing clutter and misinformation in the financial ecosystem, Katalyst is designed to recognize creators who place accuracy, transparency, and investor interest at the core of their work.

The winning content, ‘Personal Finance & Major Finance Updates’ by Himani Choudhary, was recognised for its clarity, originality, and credibility. The jury noted the content’s ability to explain complex financial concepts in a clear and measured manner, supported by strong research and a consistent focus on investor education over virality.

To ensure a robust and transparent evaluation process, the awards framework was designed and audited by EY. The top thirty entries were assessed by an academic jury.

The top 10 finalists were subsequently evaluated by a grand jury comprising Kunal Shah, Founder and CEO of CRED; Radhika Gupta, Managing Director and CEO of Edelweiss Mutual Fund; and Alpesh Shah, Managing Director and Senior Partner at Boston Consulting Group, and chaired by Ananth Narayan, former Whole–Time Member of SEBI with extensive capital markets and regulatory experience.

The Katalyst Awards recognise financial content creators who priorities financial literacy, substance, and long–term investor interest. Through this initiative, Kotak Alts aims to encourage responsible financial communication and support the development of informed and confident investors across India.

About Kotak Alternate Asset Managers Ltd: Kotak Alternate Asset Managers Limited (‘Kotak Alts’), a part of Kotak Mahindra Group (‘Kotak’), focuses on Alternate Asset Management and Investment Advisory businesses. Kotak Alts was set up in early 2005 and has raised, managed, and advised over USD 22 billion across different asset classes, including Private Equity, Real Estate, Infrastructure, Special Situations, Private Credit, and Investment Advisory. The asset management business and investment advisory vertical are managed by independent specialist teams. For more information, visit https://www.kotakalternateasset.com/

Image: https://oyefilmy.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/kotak-alts-announces-winner-of-the-inaugural-katalyst-awards-1.jpg

Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/in/news-releases/kotak-alts-announces-winner-of-the-inaugural-katalyst-awards-302709187.html

Continue Reading

News Wire

Paperpal for Life Sciences Establishes HIPAA Readiness, Strengthening Enterprise Adoption of AI in Regulated Medical and Scientific Writing Workflows

MUMBAI, India, March 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Paperpal for Life Sciences, an enterprise-grade Artificial Intelligence (AI) platform by Cactus Communications, purpose-built for Medical Affairs and Life Sciences organizations, announced the completion of an assessment evaluating its operational and technical safeguards to support Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) requirements. This milestone reinforces Paperpal’s commitment to meeting the rigorous standards of security, data protection, and regulatory readiness required for regulated scientific workflows.

Growing AI use in medical affairs writing and publication workflows is intensifying scrutiny on data privacy, governance, and regulatory accountability. To support these evolving needs, Paperpal for Life Sciences has undertaken an assessment of its systems and processes to evaluate readiness to support HIPAA compliance, where applicable, and now proudly offers the option to execute a Business Associate Agreement (BAA) for Protected Health Information (PHI) and Personally Identifiable Information (PII). This offering gives customers the confidence that PHI or PII, if received, is handled securely and responsibly, in line with regulatory expectations and enterprise risk management practices.

Paperpal for Life Sciences provides AI writing, literature search, source-grounded summarization with citation support, and critical publication checks, powering medical affairs content creation under stringent data privacy and governance controls. The platform accelerates research-to-publication timelines by upto 25%, supporting faster dissemination of clinical evidence and earlier commercialization of new drugs and therapies.

Nishchay Shah, Group CTO and EVP, Products and AI at Cactus Communications, said, “As AI becomes foundational to regulated scientific and medical workflows, compliance and trust are no longer optional. Paperpal for Life Sciences’ HIPAA readiness measures reflect our secure-by-design approach to AI, strong data governance framework, and alignment with real-world enterprise and regulatory requirements. This milestone enables organizations to adopt AI at scale with confidence that their data, processes, and compliance obligations are protected .”

Elvira Dsouza, President, Cactus Life Sciences, added, “Medical Affairs and Life Sciences teams operate in highly regulated environments where scientific rigor, data privacy, and compliance are non-negotiable. HIPAA readiness positions Paperpal for Life Sciences as a trusted AI partner, one that enables organizations to accelerate evidence generation and scientific communication without compromising regulatory integrity .”

With this announcement, Paperpal for Life Sciences reinforces its position as a purpose-built, enterprise-ready AI platform for medical affairs content generation that supports innovation while meeting the highest standards of privacy, ethics, and regulatory compliance.

Media Contact:

Nidhi Amin

nidhi.amin@cactusglobal.com 

Logo: https://oyefilmy.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/paperpal-for-life-sciences-establishes-hipaa-readiness-strengthening-enterprise-adoption-of-ai-in-regulated-medical-and-scientific-writing-workflows-1.jpg

 

Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/in/news-releases/paperpal-for-life-sciences-establishes-hipaa-readiness-strengthening-enterprise-adoption-of-ai-in-regulated-medical-and-scientific-writing-workflows-302708082.html

Continue Reading

Trending