For those whose knowledge on all things literary doesn't begin and end with the latest exploits of Harry Potter and his band of adventurers, September 2004 marked a special celebration for readers in Mumbai. The bookstore that has been trés familiar with assorted book launches and readings, the Crossword in collaboration with Hutch, announced the Crossword and Hutch book awards that felicitated literary talent from India. Literary talent from within and without the nation saw famous wordsmiths competing for this only Book Award that has been established with the noble intention of promoting the grand old habit of reading.  The winners for the year past (2004) were Amitav Ghosh for his highly acclaimed The Hungry Tide in the English Fiction category and Chandrasekhar Rath in the Indian Language Fiction Translation category for Astride the Wheel (Yantrarudha). An event that surely resulted in quite a few converts.