Banu Mushtaq’s Kannada publisher scrambles to meet growing demand after Booker win
Mysuru: Following the international acclaim of Heart Lamp, the book by veteran Kannada writer Banu Mushtaq that recently won the coveted International Booker Prize, demand for its Kannada edition, Hasina Mattu Itara Kathegalu, has surged across bookstores in Karnataka.
Published by Abhiruchi Prakashana, the 776-page collection of 47 short stories has gained considerable attention since the book’s global recognition. According to Ganesh, the proprietor of Abhiruchi Prakashana, the publisher has sold nearly 1,000 copies within the past week alone, as reported by Deccan Herald on Wednesday.
The publisher has now received an impressive 3,000 orders from bookstores across Karnataka, illustrating the book's soaring popularity.
Ganesh’s association with Banu Mushtaq began in 2002 when they first met at a protest in Hassan. This brief encounter turned into a 23-year-long collaboration between the two. He initially published two of her short story collections, Safira and Badavara Magalu Hennalla, the report added.
Banu’s earlier books Hejje Moodada Haadi, Benki Male, and Edeya Hanathe, previously published by various other houses, were not available at the time. In 2013, Ganesh made the decision to bring all of Banu’s stories together, publishing Hasina Mattu Itara Kathegalu.
“Banu called me at the beginning of this year, asking if I could make another compilation of her stories. That’s when I decided to include the new collection as well in the revised edition of ‘Hasina Mattu Itara Kathegalu’,” DH quoted Ganesh as saying.
Abhiruchi Prakashana is a small publishing house located in the quiet lanes of Saraswathipuram in Mysuru. Ganesh’s journey in the world of Kannada literature began in his teenage years when, at just 18, he sold books from a bicycle. Thanks to a Rs 25,000 grant from the Kannada Pustaka Pradhikara (Kannada Book Authority), Ganesh opened his first bookstore, Abhiruchi Kannada Pustaka Malige, in 1995. He also ventured into publishing soon after.
"My experience selling books made it easier to choose which ones to publish," Ganesh explained. "And I had the privilege of engaging with progressive Left-leaning groups like Dalit Sangharsh Samithi and Raitha Sangha, who became my customers," he added.
Notably, Abhiruchi Prakashana has published 438 books to date. In recognition of its contribution to the Kannada literary scene, the publishing house will be receiving the Kannada Book Authority’s Best Publication Award for 2023, announced this year.
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Four more arrested in brigadier assault case in Delhi
New Delhi (PTI): Four more accused have been arrested in connection with the alleged assault on an Army brigadier, his son and threatening his wife in southwest Delhi's Vasant Enclave area, police said on Friday.
The accused have been identified as Surjit Singh (36), Sunil Sharma (53) and Ashish (32), all from Mehram Nagar in Delhi, and Satender (35) of Bhiwani in Haryana, police said.
According to police, Surjit Singh was known to the main accused Satender, a director of an aviation company. All of them were sitting together in Mehram Nagar when Satender called them regarding a quarrel in Vasant Enclave.
"Following the call, all four left for the spot in Surjit's white Hyundai Aura. After reaching there, they got involved in the altercation and assault before returning to their respective homes," a senior police officer said.
After learning about the registration of the case, the accused fled and went into hiding, he said.
"Teams were constituted to trace them and all four absconding accused were arrested," he said.
The Hyundai Aura used in the incident has also been recovered, police said.
Further investigation into the case is underway. The role of each accused is being examined, they said.
According to the investigators, the incident took place on the night of April 11, when the brigadier and his son objected to the two men allegedly consuming alcohol inside a car parked outside their residence. Soon, others reached the spot and allegedly assaulted the officer and his son, besides abusing and threatening his wife.
