In a moment that resonates far beyond a single ceremony, Egyptian novelist Salwa Bakr was awarded the inaugural BRICS Literary Award, marking a significant shift in how global literature is seen, valued, and celebrated. The award was presented during the Cairo International Book Fair, one of the world’s most influential literary gatherings—an apt setting for an event that seeks to rebalance cultural visibility and literary power. Bakr’s win is not merely a personal triumph. I