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Published : 30 Aug 2025, 12:30 AM
Banu Mushtaq, the international Booker Prize-winning writer, has become the centre of political controversy over the inauguration of Karnataka state’s biggest cultural festival, Mysuru Dasara.
The 2025 Booker Prize winner has attracted global attention this year for her collection of short stories, Hridpradip (Heart Lamp), which has been translated into several languages.
Last week, the Congress-led Karnataka government announced that Mushtaq would inaugurate this year’s traditional 10-day Mysuru Dasara festival, also known as Nada Habba.
The festival is celebrated every year with processions of decorated elephants, cultural programmes and fireworks, drawing thousands of participants.
The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) criticised the Congress government’s decision to invite Mushtaq, arguing that the festival is a Hindu celebration and questioning why a Muslim writer was chosen to open it.
Mushtaq accepted the invitation, saying it was an honour and that she has participated in the festival since her childhood, feeling deeply connected to it. Despite this, the controversy has continued.
BJP leaders maintained that Dasara is not a secular event. While they have no objection to Mushtaq’s personal beliefs, they argue the festival is fundamentally a Hindu tradition.
Several BJP leaders also raised objections over some of Mushtaq’s past remarks about the goddess Bhuvaneshwari, which they claim were “offensive”.
Bhuvaneshwari is considered a symbol of Karnataka’s language and identity. A video of Mushtaq’s comments circulated widely on social media, intensifying the debate across the state.
Responding to the criticism, Mushtaq said, “I respect Goddess Bhuvaneshwari. The people of the state call her mother, and I respect their sentiments.”
Earlier this year, Mushtaq became the first female writer in the Kannada language to win the International Booker Prize, setting a record.
She is already a well-known figure in contemporary Indian literature, and the international recognition has brought new attention to her life and work. Her stories often reflect the lives of women fighting religious conservatism and patriarchal society.
