Heart Lamp ~ Banu Mushtaq 29 of 25

 

Lamplight on HeartLamp

Cover reminded me of 'Traveling with Pomegranates' by Sue Monk Kidd and Ann Kidd Taylor', looks like both are in a way, spiritual journeys. One through short, searing fiction rooted in Kannada women's experiences, and the other through memoir, where a mother and daughter explore identity, faith, and transformation while traveling.

Layered, bold, and rooted in rich cultural soil. Banu Mushtaq's stories are known for exploring identity, womanhood, and resistance with quiet fire, and Deepa Bhasthi’s translation likely preserves that depth and dignity beautifully.

The pomegranate becomes this shared metaphor across cultures and genres—a fruit of memory, fertility, hidden complexity, and resilience. One book holds it like a symbol of womanhood across generations, the other as a lamp of layered inner lives.

 While it is a critique of patriarchy, gender dynamics, poverty and inequality, the stories are leavened with a generous sprinkling of humour. The quirky characters like the Arabic teacher who loves cauliflower manjuri, the drunken painter Nisar and the little boy who plies his grandmother with Pepsi in the guise of the drink of heaven........

Reminds me of my feelings about much of contemporary fiction, that characters are often unidimensional. Banu Mushtaq is in another league with exquisitely drawn characters.

Much has already been said about the masterly translation, the effortless use of Kannada/Urdu words without italics. Masterly.

The last story.....here I have to quote - 

Ultimately, Be a Woman, Once, O Lord is not just a poem—it is a protest. It calls for the dismantling of systems that normalize female suffering and demands that both the divine and society confront the reality of what it means to be a woman. Through this bold appeal, Mushtaq asserts the need for empathy, equality, and divine justice.

"Some of us step on the cindering balls of coal and carve a space for ourselves. Some of us learn to exist too close to the fire. None of us are left unscarred."

With piercing insight and a storyteller’s grace, Banu Mushtaq lays bare the raw, unspoken truths of womanhood in this relatable collection. Her characters are not just fictional—they are reflections, echoes, and realities drawn from every corner of the world. Written in an intimate, colloquial style, these stories resonate deeply, making them feel less like tales and more like shared experiences.

I read the book in a single sitting, not because it was easy, but because it was impossible to look away. Mushtaq’s background as a journalist, lawyer, and activist pulses through each page, infusing her narratives with authenticity, empathy, and power. Her sharp observations on human nature and emotional resilience make this collection unforgettable—both in its pain and its quiet triumphs.

🌟 **Heart Lamp – Discussion Guide**

#### 📚 General Themes to Explore:

* **Identity & Belonging:** How do the characters grapple with gender, religion, caste, or class?

* **Resistance & Silence:** What does resistance look like in the world of these stories—loud or quiet? Internal or external?

* **Body & Desire:** How is the body portrayed—as sacred, political, trapped, or liberated?

* **Women’s Inner Lives:** Do you notice moments when the characters' inner worlds speak louder than the plot?

#### 💬 Conversation Starters:

1. **Which story struck you most so far—and why?**

2. **Do you feel the translation carries the emotion and context well?**

   *(This is a good way to appreciate Deepa Bhasthi’s work too.)*

3. **Did any story remind you of someone you know—or yourself?**

   *(Personal reflections often lead to great conversations.)*

4. **How does the author portray faith or religion—personal, cultural, or critical?**

5. **What emotions did the stories leave you with—anger, tenderness, guilt, hope?**

#### 🕯️ Symbolism Clues:

* **The Pomegranate (cover)** – Might stand for the heart, secrets, or seeds of many stories. .

* **“Heart Lamp”** – What does it mean? Is it about keeping love, memory, or identity.

Am lucky—discussing books sounds like a rare treat.