Heart Lamp by Banu Mushtaq (2025): A Review
Author: Banu Mushtaq
Publication Year: 2025
Pages: 217
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Genre: Domestic Fiction, Biographical Fiction
Sources: Ebook @everand_us
Banu Mushtaq’s “Heart Lamp” is a raw and unfiltered account of the struggles faced by women in Indian-Muslim society. It presents a collection of heart-wrenching stories detailing the miseries and abuse that women endure as wives, mothers, and daughters, often without being recognized as individuals. Banu Mushtaq does not limit her focus to women's plights; she also highlights the abuse and suffering experienced by boys and men, emphasizing that there is no end to abuse, violence, and oppression, regardless of gender. However, being a woman always intensifies these challenges.
The stories are incredibly raw and heartbreaking, leaving you searching for the right words to articulate the anger you feel. Thematically, it serves as a true gem, reflecting her culture and what matters to her as an Indian lawyer, activist, and writer. While many, including some women, naively claim that women's rights have been fully achieved and that there is nothing left to gain (I wonder where these people live), Banu Mushtaq demonstrates the opposite: there has been almost zero progress toward women's rights, particularly in some parts of the world. Beyond gaining any form of rights, there is a fundamental struggle to live with dignity as an individual in these stories.
While some stories deserve a full 5-star rating, others fall between 2 and 3 stars. Additionally, I found the writing style, particularly in translation, lacking in strength, which detracted from the overall impact of the collection.
Comments
Post a Comment