Cherylann Mollan reporting for BBC News from Mumbai, shares the story of Banu Mushtaq, an Indian writer-lawyer-activist who made history by winning the International Booker prize for her short story anthology, Heart Lamp. The book, written in the Kannada language spoken in Karnataka, captures the struggles of Muslim women in southern India. The stories were translated into English by Deepa Bhasthi, showcasing Mushtaq’s nuanced characters and plot-lines.
Mushtaq’s win follows Geetanjali Shree’s victory in 2022. Despite facing challenges in her personal life, including a tumultuous marriage and postpartum depression, Mushtaq persevered and continued to write. Her work reflects her defiance against societal norms and patriarchal constraints. She has faced backlash and threats for her bold opinions, but remains steadfast in her commitment to writing with honesty and integrity. Cherylann Mollan A pesar de que el contexto evoluciona, las luchas básicas de las mujeres y las comunidades marginadas continúan,” ella dijo a la revista The Week.
A lo largo de los años, las escrituras de Mushtaq han ganado numerosos premios locales y nacionales prestigiosos, incluido el Premio de la Academia de Sahitya de Karnataka y el Premio Daana Chintamani Attimabbe.
En 2024, la compilación traducida al inglés de las cinco colecciones de cuentos cortos de Mushtaq publicadas entre 1990 y 2012 – Haseena y Otros Cuentos – ganó el Premio de Traducción PEN.
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