Well-known Indian poet and novelist Jeet Thayil has become the first Indian author to win the DSC South Asian literature prize worth $ 50,000.

Thayil won the award for his debut novel Narcopolis. "I dedicate this coveted award to the Pakistani writer and author Jamil Ahmed. I am very happy to receive this award  as I am an Indian and its an Indian award. The book drew a very negative reviews from literary critics.The money matters and am doubly happy to receive this prize. All authors and writers want money and here it is," said a beaming Thayil.

Others authors in the fray for the award were Jamil Ahmed for The Wandering Falcon, Tahmima Anam for The Good Muslim, Amitava Ghosh for River of Smoke, Mohammed Hanif for Our Lady of Alice Bhatti and Uday Prakash for the translated version  from Hindi The Walls of Delhi.

Actor and UN ambassador for goodwill Sharmila Tagore presented the award to Thayil.

Thayil is a former Rediff.com staffer.