The Karnataka government’s decision to have Booker Prize-winning author Banu Mushtaq inaugurate the 2025 Mysuru Dasara festival has ignited controversy, with BJP leader Pratap Simha questioning the choice of a Muslim to open a Hindu religious event. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced on August 22 that Mushtaq, a 77-year-old writer from Hassan, will launch the 11-day festivities starting September 22, culminating in Vijaya Dashami on October 2.
Mushtaq, honored for her Kannada short story collection Heart Lamp (Hrudaya Deepa), became the first Kannada author to win the International Booker Prize in May 2025. Her anthology, spanning 1990 to 2023, explores the lives of Muslim women in southern India, tackling themes of patriarchy and gender inequality. Siddaramaiah praised her contributions to farmers’ movements, Kannada activism, and progressive causes, noting the significance of a woman inaugurating the “world-famous Dasara Mahotsav.”
Simha, a former BJP MP, acknowledged Mushtaq’s literary achievements but argued that Dasara, rooted in Hindu traditions since the Vijayanagara empire, is a religious festival centered on Goddess Chamundeshwari. “Dasara is not a secular event; it’s 100% a reflection of our religion,” he told media, questioning whether Mushtaq believes in the deity or follows Hindu rituals. Similar sentiments on X, including posts from @PLEKarnataka, criticized the decision as appeasement, urging Mushtaq to clarify her stance on performing rituals.
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Mushtaq, contacted by NDTV, declined to address Simha’s remarks, stating, “I have been invited. Only the invitee has to comment on this,” and confirmed her participation. The controversy intensified as Udupi police filed FIRs against two individuals for Islamophobic social media posts targeting Mushtaq’s selection, deeming them provocative.
The debate underscores tensions over Dasara’s cultural significance, with Mushtaq’s supporters highlighting her literary and social contributions, while critics argue the festival’s religious nature demands a Hindu officiant. The event, a hallmark of Karnataka’s heritage, is set to draw global attention amid this polarizing row.
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