2025 Nobel Prize in Literature: Amitav Ghosh, Salman Rushdie Among Leading Contenders
Stockholm, October 9, 2025 — The anticipation is at its peak as the Swedish Academy prepares to announce the winner of the 2025 Nobel Prize in Literature on Thursday, October 9. This year’s shortlist features a rich blend of literary giants from across the world — including India’s Amitav Ghosh, British-Indian author Salman Rushdie, Japan’s Haruki Murakami, and Canada’s Margaret Atwood.
The prize, one of the most prestigious honors in global literature, is awarded annually to a writer whose work “in the field of literature has produced the most outstanding work in an ideal direction.”
Amitav Ghosh Rises as a Global Favourite
According to Nicerodds, which compiles insights from multiple bookmakers, Amitav Ghosh has emerged as a favourite for this year’s Nobel. The celebrated Indian novelist is best known for his Ibis Trilogy — Sea of Poppies, River of Smoke, and Flood of Fire — as well as acclaimed works like The Shadow Lines and The Great Derangement: Climate Change and the Unthinkable.
If Ghosh wins, he will become only the second Indian to ever receive the Nobel Prize in Literature, following Rabindranath Tagore, who won it in 1913 for his poetry collection Gitanjali.
Ghosh’s writing, which explores themes of colonialism, migration, climate change, and the human condition, has earned him international acclaim and multiple awards. His potential win is seen as a recognition not only of his literary achievements but also of the rising influence of South Asian literature in global discourse.
Betting Odds Favour Can Xue and László Krasznahorkai
While Amitav Ghosh is among the strong contenders, betting company Ladbrokes places Chinese writer Can Xue and Hungarian author László Krasznahorkai as the top favourites to win.
Can Xue, known for her avant-garde and surreal storytelling, represents a unique voice in Chinese literature that challenges traditional narrative forms. Meanwhile, Krasznahorkai — best known for his novel Satantango — has been a long-standing favourite among critics for his complex, philosophical prose and profound insight into the human psyche.
Other writers high on the list include Mexican author Cristina Rivera Garza, Spanish novelist Enrique Vila-Matas, Australian writer Gerald Murnane, and Romanian author Mircea Cărtărescu.
The reclusive American author Thomas Pynchon, known for his postmodern classic Gravity’s Rainbow, also remains a perennial favourite despite his decades-long absence from the public eye.
Other Contenders in the Spotlight
Beyond the top names, the betting markets have also seen growing support for Canadian poet Anne Carson — renowned for her hybrid works that blend poetry, prose, and classical scholarship — and Antigua-born Jamaica Kincaid, whose novels vividly explore themes of colonial legacy, identity, and female empowerment.
In the English-speaking world, Salman Rushdie, the British-Indian author of Midnight’s Children and The Satanic Verses, continues to be a prominent figure in literary discussions. Rushdie, who survived a violent attack in 2022, has been celebrated globally for his defiant voice, magical realism, and enduring influence on contemporary fiction.
Margaret Atwood, author of The Handmaid’s Tale and The Testaments, is another name frequently mentioned, having long been regarded as one of the most influential voices in modern literature.
Historical Context and Past Winners
The Nobel Prize in Literature has a long and sometimes controversial history. Founded by Alfred Nobel’s will in 1895, it aims to honour writers who contribute to the enrichment of humanity through their literary work.
Last year’s prize went to South Korean author Han Kang, whose novels — including The Vegetarian and Human Acts — were praised by the committee for “confronting historical traumas and exposing the fragility of human life.”
In 2020, the prize was awarded to American poet Louise Glück for her “unmistakable poetic voice that, with austere beauty, makes individual existence universal.”
Earlier, the committee made headlines when Bob Dylan won the prize in 2016, sparking debate over whether songwriting constitutes literature.
Literary World Awaits a Landmark Moment
The 2025 literature prize is the fourth Nobel to be announced this week, following the awards in medicine, physics, and chemistry. The announcement will take place at the Swedish Academy in Stockholm, with the Nobel Committee expected to unveil its decision around 4:30 p.m. IST.
The decision is closely watched across literary circles, universities, and publishing houses worldwide. For India, a win for Amitav Ghosh would mark a historic moment, reaffirming the nation’s growing influence on the world’s literary map more than a century after Tagore’s triumph.
Final Thoughts from TheTrendingPeople.com
The Nobel Prize in Literature remains one of the most powerful recognitions of the written word — a celebration of storytelling that transcends borders. Whether the honour goes to Amitav Ghosh, Salman Rushdie, or another literary visionary, this year’s announcement is a reminder that literature continues to shape our understanding of the world.
As anticipation builds, readers and writers alike await a new voice to join the ranks of Tagore, Toni Morrison, and Gabriel García Márquez — storytellers whose words changed the course of literary history.