No story is small: Banu Mushtaq to B'luru students

Time of India

16-07-2025

Banu Mushtaq, the first Kannada writer to win the International Booker Prize, earlier this year, visited Bengaluru to meet and greet students and teachers at the Mount Carmel College.
During her speech, she shared insights into her life, challenges, and steadfast belief in the power of words. Excerpts:
'I COULDN'T READ A SINGLE ALPHABET TILL THE AGE OF EIGHT'
Born into a traditional Muslim family, Banu was initially admitted to an Urdu school but spent two years there without learning to read or write. 'I couldn't read a single alphabet till the age of eight. One of my father's friends who had written my jataka (horoscope) predicted that I would one day be world famous, and my father always held onto that hope.
When I was admitted to a government Kannada school, I was told, 'Muslim girls never study Kannada.
We'll give her six months, and if she doesn't pick up, we'll issue a transfer certificate'. Within one week, I learnt all the Kannada alphabets. The next week, I was reading and writing. I was encouraged by my father, who supported me throughout my education,' she shared.
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'I BELIEVED IN MY STORIES, MY LANGUAGE AND MYSELF'
Banu recalled the immense pressure leading up to the International Booker Prize ceremony.
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'I was constantly reminded by people that a short story collection had never won the Booker, and was considered insignificant compared to a novel. The voices never quietened down, and that made me write my acceptance speech because I believed in my stories, in language and myself. I told myself, 'No story is small',' she said.
Still marvelling at her win, Banu said, 'People across the world have watched that speech of a small-town woman who once couldn't read a single alphabet.'
'A WOMAN WHO WRITES IS STILL SEEN AS A REBEL'
'There is always some resistance outside the home. Especially for women, writing is seen as an act of rebellion. Our (women writers') thoughts aren't meant to be public, as the patriarchal society believes. According to society, a good woman stays silent. If she writes, especially about religion or injustice, people say she's crossing a line,' said Banu.
'ASKING FOR HELP IS CONSIDERED WEAKNESS BY SOCIETY'
'We speak of motherhood as joyful, but we don't speak of its isolation. If she asks for help, then that is seen as a sign of weakness and she's instantly dismissed as being 'too emotional,' said Banu.