Banu Mushtaq: International Laurels 28 Years Back

Bengaluru: Ms Banu Mushtaq, the 77 years old Kannada writer, activist and lawyer of Hassan in Karnataka is in the news in state, national and international literary circles these days, thanks to the international Booker Prize in 2025 for 'Heart Lamp', a selection of her short stories translated by Deepa Bhasti. Interestingly, this is not the first global recognition of her Kannada literary works, as she won an international award for one of her works in 1997, 28 years ago.

IAWRT competition only for women: The International Association of Women for Radio and Television popularly known as IAWRT holds a competition once in two years exclusively for women. According to octogenarian G. M. Shirahatti, the then Station Director of CBS Bangalore, 'It is a contest exclusively for women, as all the authors, artists, and program producers need to be women.' The competition is also restricted to programmes on issues of social importance for women'.

Drama relayed on all stations: Thanks to the international Booker Prize in 2025, Ms Banu Mushtaq's international award-winning 'Oh God, Once Be a Woman' was relayed on all the radio stations across the state. However, sadly there was no mention of its significance at the present juncture and it also is one of the short stories translated into the Booker Prize-winning 'Heart Lamp', before or after the play.

An unusual story: 'Oh God, Once Be a Woman' is an unusual story from whichever point you would like to look at. According to Ms P Mahejabeen, the work of literature is a piece of a monologue from a woman's point of view on the assumption that God could be masculine by nature. As a result, it would be improper to imagine that the male God could have an understanding of the pain and agony of a feminine being. So the writer pleads to him that if at all he gets another opportunity to create the universe, homo sapiens, let him choose to become a woman!

Women have their caste and religion: The 28-year-old story of Ms Banu Mushtaq developed into a broadcast drama and was also a revelation of the hardcore plain fact that a woman has her own experience of caste and religion, giving the listener a different type of experience.

See the transformation, God: A woman, right from the beginning of the drama narrates her pathetic tale weepingly by recalling several horrible incidents of cruelty and suppression on her. She dwells upon the never-ending list of woes encountered, accompanied by the male-chauvinist attitude and indifferent societal behaviour.

Questions prohibited: She also cajoles the omnipotent God by praying to give voice to her dumb mentality and asks him about her condition from once a beautiful damsel and the changeover of her looks. She brings to light the advisory note of her mother while departing to her husband's house soon after the marriage -Questions are prohibited for us and unflinching loyalty by itself is an ornament to all of us. He needs to be duly served as he is the only almighty on her path...

Husband goes for the second marriage: She commits herself to the service of her hubby by fulfilling the physical demands and whatnot and goes berserk at his torture, again submitting to God with the plea-Oh God I have become a toy to play with for him. Why did you bestow upon him the power, is it only to manhandle and harass me? Her silent prayers keep going uninterrupted with no visible signs of the protector coming to her rescue. Then she takes a dig at him with the plaint-His cruelty and torture have led me to a hapless situation after delivering two kids and becoming physically ill which has encouraged him to return home with a second marriage!

Am I your incomplete creation: Her desperation looks never-ending with no one to console nor anyone of any help to come out of her predicament. So, her suffering and praying keep going hand-in-hand God, am I your incomplete creation? Are you not listening to my yearning? I have been sitting silently witnessing the ongoings. The heart in the form of a home is already split into pieces. If you ever get another opportunity to create the universe, then don't behave like an inexperienced potter by creating man and woman; instead, come to the earth as a woman yourself!

Information and Inputs Courtesy: G M Shirahatti and Ms P Mahejabeen.

Paintings Courtesy: Belli Meghanath.

-Manohar Yadavatti

When Punjab Chief Minister's Son Was Paraded On Underwear

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