Books- Banu Mushtaq wins Booker Prize

In her Booker Prize acceptance speech, Banu Mushtaq said, "No story is local." 

Banu Mushtaq's work receiveing a Booker prize feels personal not because I love books, Kannada or I'm from India. It's because the writer's conviction to tell stories despite hardships gets recognition. I'm sure Banu would continue writing even if she hadn't received this accolade. I'm in awe of such conviction to writing. I remember a few writing friends who told me, "treat writing/poetry as a work. Just like how managers would walk to desk to work, poetry is the same. Walk to the desk, write and treat it with the respect the way you treat other things in life." 

But what about life, food, money, relations one could ask? I don't have answers for that. I feel that art is not a luxury to practice when things are great. Instead I feel we need to practice art despite all that life throws at us. That's what makes us more human, I feel. 

A few thoughts on language. Especially Kannada language. Having worked across different states in India, I've interacted with many people who fail to show basic respect to languages, especially regional languages in general. 

I find it funny to see the Non-Kannada speaking Indians in foreign countries being in dilemma if they should celebrate it or not. If they celebrate, they need to agree and value and respect Kannada language. A few non-kannada speaking Indians would love to associate with all good things about India at International level and feel passionate about being Indian, because the same non-Kannada speaking Indians looked down upon learning the language when they're in that land. The same non-Kannada speaking Indians looked down upon the regional language as any other lucrative foreign language seemed to help them in their career development and found no use in learning Kannada. It's not about learning the language but treating it with respect. Learning a language is a personal choice but treating it with due respect is the basic act one can do. Next time you're in Karnataka, instil your curiosity rather than condescension. 

Thanks Banu Mushtaq for the gift you've given to the world,word by word.