The Himalayan Writing Retreat Khozem Merchant Non-Fiction Fellowship is a fellowship from the Himalayan Writing Retreat that funds long-form non-fiction writers with a residency, mentoring, and financial support. Five fellows are selected annually through a competitive application process by Penguin Random House India and the HWR team.

Fellows attend a 3-day Masterclass with acclaimed author Jerry Pinto, participate in a 21-day writing residency in the Himalayas, and are expected to complete their manuscript by April 30, 2027. Eligible genres include Personal Narratives, True Accounts, Biographies, Memoirs, History, Narrative Non-Fiction, and Investigative Journalism. The application deadline is February 10, 2026.

The HWR Khozem Merchant Non-Fiction Fellowship - The Himalayan Writing Retreat Himalayan Workshops/Courses International Writers Retreats Devdutt Pattanaik Talent Hunt The Himalayan Emerging Writers Residency HWR Khozem Merchant NF Fellowship Himalayan Workshops/Courses International Writers Retreats Devdutt Pattanaik Talent Hunt The Himalayan Emerging Writers Residency HWR Khozem Merchant NF Fellowship The HWR Khozem Merchant Non-Fiction Fellowship The HWR Khozem Merchant Non-fiction Fellowship gives writers of long-form non-fiction support and mentoring.

Penguin Random House India & the Himalayan Writing Retreat (HWR) team will make the selection. The selected Fellows will attend a course, a residency and get financial support, and will possibly get a book deal from Penguin. Himanjali Sankar , a dedicated, experienced editor will work with the fellows for the entire year.

Thanks to Rishi Khanna, Lata Gullapalli and Saumya Roy joining and supporting Aparna Piramal Raje as patrons of this fellowship, we will now select five fellows instead of three. Five selected Fellows will: Attend a 3-day writing Masterclass with Jerry Pinto. Attend a 21-day writing residency in the Himalayas.

Receive financial support. Need to have their manuscript finished and ready by 30 th April, 2027 . Penguin Random House India will look at finished manuscripts and may offer a publishing deal.

With this Fellowship we would like to ‘institutionalise courage’ and encourage writers to tell stories that move our society forward. We encourage first-person accounts and lived experience narratives, and those that offer solutions to our many challenges as a nation.

Specifications of the Fellowship Genres: Non-fiction Writers in the following categories can apply: Personal Narratives | True Accounts | Lived Experiences | Biographies | Memoirs | History | Narrative Non-Fiction |Investigative Journalism. Themes relating to personal well-being will be encouraged. Award Sum: Each selected Fellow will receive an award amount of INR 50,000.

In addition, each resident will also receive a travel fund of INR 20,000. Training: Each fellow will attend a writing course with Jerry Pinto in early May 2026 at the Himalayan Writing Retreat. Residency Component: Each writer will be part of the Emerging Writers Residency as well – which will be from 9th to 30th July, 2026.

This will allow the Fellows to get away from the grind to focus on their writing without distraction. During this time we will also have a French writer-in-residence as part of the Villa Swagatam Indo-French cultural residency program. Publishing Partner: Penguin Random House India will be a part of the selection process, and reserves the right to offer a book deal to some or all of the selected Fellows.

Language: The Fellowship is open to English writers only. Age: We will consider applicants of all genders over 25 years for the Fellowship. Companions: No partners, family members or friends will be allowed for the course or the residency components.

Geographical Scope: The Fellowship will be open to Indian citizens anywhere in the world. This is also open to all residents of India, regardless of citizenship. Jury: The selection committee will comprise of a panel from HWR and Senior Editors from Penguin Random House India.

Selection Process: The call for applications will go out pan India. The selection of Fellows will be based on an evaluation of the following materials: Author bio (including previous writing & publishing credentials). A book proposal, which will include a synopsis and an excerpt (sample chapters) of the proposed book.

Willingness to commit the time for all elements of the Fellowship (5 days in early May, 2026 and 21 days in July 2026). Applicants should also be able to handle altitude and hilly terrain. We will select all writers based purely on the merit of their application.

Religion, caste, gender or financial need will not be a criteria. Application fee: There is no application fee. We may review this in future.

Duration: 1st May, 2026 to 30th April, 2027. Output Expectation: The completed manuscript needs to be submitted to Penguin Random House India by the end of the Fellowship i.e. by 30th April, 2027.

Activity Start date / end date, as applicable Applications open Till 10 Feb, 2026 Shortlisted Candidates will be contacted By 20 March, 2026 Final selection 21 March – 15 April, 2026 Announce selected Fellows & get undertaking from Fellows committing the required time By 16 April, 2026 Fellowship duration 1 year 1 May 2026 – 30 April, 2027 Submission of MS to Penguin Random House India By 30 April, 2027 “Writing is a solitary sport.

Allies were essential in my journey, especially in my early days as a writer. I was very fortunate to find the perfect mentor in Khozem Merchant, a seasoned journalist and communications professional. Khozem offered feedback with rigour, empathy and patience for over a decade of many long lunches and cups of green tea.

His invaluable mentorship has helped me write two non-fiction books, one on business and design, and one on mental health (which is a national bestseller). He also helped me write one of the longest-running columns in the Mint newspaper. Finding generous and experienced allies is not easy.

There are so many of us who may not have access to such wisdom, insight, friendship and humour. With this in mind, I’m excited to partner with the Himalayan Writing Retreat to create a new Fellowship honouring Khozem Merchant. The Fellowship will provide support and mentoring for writers who might otherwise struggle to get their voices heard.

We hope that the combination of the residency in the company of other writers, ongoing mentoring and access to publishers will enable many exciting stories to come to life. Having a trusted mentor also helped me take risks in my writing and that is the other tenet of this Fellowship. We would like to ‘institutionalise courage’ and encourage writers to tell stories that move our society forward.

We especially encourage first-person accounts and lived experience narratives, and those that offer solutions to our many challenges as a nation. Wish you all the best in your writing journey. ” – Aparna Piramal Raje.

Author, Chemical Khichdi & Patron of this fellowship. How to write a non-fiction book proposal How to write an effective non-fiction query letter Who is Khozem Merchant? Why is this Fellowship named after him?

Khozem Merchant is a senior journalist and communications professional and has been Aparna Piramal Raje’s writing mentor for over a decade. Aparna is the Patron of this fellowship joined by Rishi Khanna, Lata Gullapalli and Saumya Roy. Who is organising and funding this Fellowship?

The Fellowship is being organized by the Himalayan Writing Retreat and was conceptualised and initiated by 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 . Rishi Khanna, Lata Gullapalli and Saumya Roy have also joined as patrons enabling us to offer five fellowships now.

Lata Gullapalli is a chairperson, non-executive director, investment banker, consultant, mentor for senior leaders and rural entrepreneurs, public speaker, and author of fiction and nonfiction works. Saumya Roy is a journalist, activist, author of the book “Mountain Tales” and co-founder of Vandana Foundation which supports the livelihoods of Mumbai’s poorest micro-entrepreneurs.

How many fellows will be accepted into The HWR Khozem Merchant Fellowship in 2026? What if I cannot commit time for the days required (6-10 May 2026 and 9-30 July 2026)? Can I still apply?

It will be a waste because we need all fellows to provide an undertaking that they will commit to the time requirements. Without such an undertaking they will not be accepted. If an accepted fellow reneges on the time commitment, they will be blacklisted and will also not receive the financial support.

When will I receive the travel funds? Selected Fellows will receive INR 20k in the first week of May 2026. What if my travel cost is higher than INR 20,000?

All Fellows will receive the same travel fund. You have to manage within that by planning well in advance / choosing cheaper modes of transportation. You are free to spend your own money if you choose more expensive means of transportation, of course.

For the last leg from the train station/airport, can we share cabs? We will form groups of participants for the course and also the residency to help you share cabs and reduce costs. When will the selected residents receive the INR 50,000?

On successful completion of the residency component (July-end). What if I join and sign the undertaking for the time commitment, but am unable to find the time to attend? All selected Fellows will be required to provide an undertaking that they will be able to make time commitments for the course and the residency.

If after providing such an undertaking the resident does not participate in full, they will be dropped from the program and will be blacklisted for all future THWR programs and events. They will also not receive financial support. I have a medical condition because of which I cannot be at high altitude / am unable to walk up down slopes.

Can I apply? The Himalayan Writing Retreat is at an altitude of 6500 feet above sea level. The retreat is 150 metres downhill from the nearest roadhead and quite spread out.

Sessions, meals and gatherings will require that you walk up and down slopes and stairs. If you don’t think you will be able to handle this, please do not apply. I am writing a novel/short story.

Can I apply? No. This Fellowship is only open to writers currently working on long-form non-fiction. I am writing a book of poems.

Can I apply? No. This Fellowship is only open to writers currently working on long-form non-fiction. I am translating a book.

Can I apply? We do not accept translators into the Fellowship, only people writing original content. How is this Fellowship linked to the Emerging Writers Residency?

The Emerging Writers Residency is a part of this Fellowship. Of the ten writers in the Emerging Writers Residency, five will be from the HWR Khozem Non-Fiction Merchant Fellowship. The other five will be selected directly.

You can learn more about the Emerging Writers Residency here . If you are not eligible for the Fellowship, you may still be for the residency. In that case, you can apply for the residency.

The residency is open to writers above 18 from South Asia, writing fiction as well as non-fiction. The Fellowship is only open to writers above 25 who are citizens/residents of India and who are writing non-fiction only. I am an Indian Passport Holder living outside India.

Can I apply? Can I do other work during the Course and the Residency? The HWR Khozem Merchant Non-Fiction Fellowship runs from 1 st May 2026 to 30 th April 2027.

You may do other work concurrently for most of that duration. However. you are required to take time off work and be fully focused on your writing during the Jerry Pinto course (6-10 May 2026) and the residency (9-30 July 2026).

Please see the residency rules at https://www. himalayanwritingretreat. com/emerging-writers-residency/ .

I have never published anything so far. Am I eligible? Yes, you may apply.

However, a strong author bio will improve the chances of selection. I don’t write in English, but in another language. Can I apply?

At this time HWR Khozem Merchant Non-Fiction Fellowship is open to English writers only. Will Penguin Random House India publish my book if I win this Fellowship? It is possible but not guaranteed.

It depends on how your manuscript shapes up. A publishing contract is not committed by PRHI. Will other nationalities also be present during the course/residency?

The course will mostly be Indians. During the residency, the group may include some writers from South Asian countries. A French author will also be in residence at the time of the residency.

How do I reach the Himalayan Writing Retreat for the course and then for the residency? I am a single woman. Will I be safe?

Yes, we have had hundreds of single women travellers stay with us, and safety has never been a concern in the mountains. However, we suggest all travellers be careful, especially when transiting through urban India. The designated quiet times mentioned on the residency website are not my natural writing time.

Do I have to write then? No. The quiet times are the windows when you have to maintain silence, and not indulge in conversation or distract others. If you don’t write then, that’s fine.

However, please do not prevent other residents from doing so at those times. Am I allowed to smoke at the retreat? Not anywhere inside.

Smokers are requested to smoke outside only. Is drinking alcohol allowed at the retreat? We do not have a liquor license, and we do not serve alcohol.

Drunken and unruly behaviour will not be tolerated and may result in your being asked to leave the retreat. However, you may bring your own liquor as long as you drink responsibly and are respectful of others. What is the food served at the retreat?

The fare is simple, home-like food. Meals are served at a fixed time, buffet style. Breakfast is 8 – 9 AM, Lunch is 1-2 PM and dinner is 8-9 PM.

Can I order room service? No, but each room has a kettle and teabags, etc. Packaged goods and fruits are also available at the nearby store. I have a special food requirement/food allergies.

Can you cater to that? Please inform us of your requirements in your application form. If possible, we will try to accommodate your dietary needs.

Can I come a few days late / leave a few days early for the course/residency components? No. Everyone selected is expected to attend both the course and the residency in their entirety. If you are unable to commit time for the entire duration, please don’t apply.

Can I arrive early / stay on longer during the course/residency? Yes, but this will be on a paid basis and subject to availability. Room details and tariffs are shared here.

I am considering driving up to the retreat. Is there a parking space for my car? There is no private parking.

Parking is only on the main road, a public place. A few local hotels offer parking on a paid basis. Is financial need a factor in selection?

Can I apply to the HWR Khozem Merchant Non-fiction Fellowship and also the HWR Emerging writers residency? You are welcome to apply to both. The fellowship includes the residency, but not vice-versa.

The fellowship has five seats. The residency has five additional seats. Each has different acceptance criteria, terms & conditions and juries.

The 2025 HWR Khozem Merchant Non-fiction Writing Fellows Anasuya Basu is a journalist with over two decades of experience in writing, editing and publishing news and longhand feature stories in English language dailies like The Telegraph of ABP Group, Kolkata, Hindustan Times, Down to Earth. I have numerous published articles on art, culture, heritage, environment, climate change and various other issues.

I am presently Associate Editor at The Telegraph writing feature stories. She has also spent five years in Oxford University Press as Editor of their Politics and Sociology lists. Anju Narayanan is a writer and communications professional with nearly two decades of experience spanning journalism, storytelling, and content strategy.

Writing has always been at the heart of what she does – whether as a reporter, an editor, or a communications specialist. I am especially drawn to stories that explore culture, identity, and human resilience, and I take pride in capturing the nuances that are often overlooked. Jeff Joseph is a journalist from India with a passion for investigative reporting and long-form storytelling.

As a journalist, he has covered a wide range of topics, from social and political issues and human rights to environmental concerns, indigenous rights and climate change. He is a recipient of reporting grants from the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting in 2023 as well as multiple Earth Journalism Networks grants over the years. Radheshyam Jadhav is a journalist with over 2 decades of experience.

He has worked with The Indian Express, The Times of India and The Hindu Businessline. He has published three books: Harvesting Hope in the Suicide Zone (2018, Bloomsbury), Trail of the Tiger (2021, Bloomsbury), and Lives on the Edge (2022, Speaking Tiger). Shirin Mehrotra is an independent food writer, researcher/anthropologist based in Delhi.

She writes about the intersection of food, culture and society. She has been published in Whetstone‘s Rasa Magazine, The Juggernaut, Hindustan Times (Weekend & Brunch), National Geographic Traveler, Conde Nast Traveler, Roads & Kingdoms, Goya Journal, Mint Lounge among others.

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