DYK Who Is The First Muslim Woman To Inaugurate Dussehra

Banu Mushtaq is the first Muslim woman to be invited as the chief guest for the inauguration of the world-famous Mysore Dussehra. Booker International Prize winner Banu Mushtaq is a Kannada writer. Banu Mushtaq is the second Muslim person to be chosen to inaugurate the Dussehra after renowned poet K.S. Nisar Ahmed, who inaugurated the Dussehra in 2017. Banu Mushtaq also has the distinction of being the fifth woman to inaugurate the Dussehra.

About Banu

Banu Mushtaq was born in 1948 in Hassan, Karnataka. She joined a Kannada medium convent school at the age of eight. She later mastered the Kannada language, which became the focus of her literary work. Banu, who started writing during her school days, overcame life’s challenges and pursued higher education. Banu Mushtaq, who got married at the age of 26, published her first short story at the age of 27. During this time, she faced problems in her married life, including postpartum depression. She even attempted suicide once.

Banu shares her life struggles in her acclaimed collection of short stories, ‘Heart Lamp’, which won the International Booker Prize in May 2025. Banu Mushtaq has also won major awards, including the Karnataka Sahitya Akademi Award and the Dana Chintamani Athimabbe Award. Banu also worked as a journalist for Lankesh Patrika. She later studied law and continued to write alongside it. Banu, who advocated for social reform through literature, was active in the Bandya movement. She has faced numerous threats for her public support for women’s rights, including the entry of Muslim women into mosques. Banu has written six collections of short stories, a novel, essays, and poems in Kannada. ‘Heart Lamp’ is Banu’s first English translation. It is also available in Urdu, Hindi, Tamil and Malayalam.

Controversial Decision?

Meanwhile, a controversy had erupted in Karnataka over the invitation of Banu Mushtaq to inaugurate Dussehra. The BJP and Hindu organisations openly said that it is unacceptable for a person of no religious faith to inaugurate a religious function.

The BJP and Hindu organisations also questioned the Karnataka government’s decision to invite Banu as the chief guest. Subsequently, former BJP MP from Mysore, Pratap Simha, filed a petition in the Karnataka High Court, which was dismissed by the court. This year’s Dussehra festival will be held from September 22 to October 2.

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