Stone Slabs for Shaista Mahal by Banu Mushtaq (2025): A Review
Author: Banu Mushtaq
Publication Year: 2025
Pages: 15
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: Domestic Fiction, Biographical Fiction
Awards: International Booker Prize Nominee for Shortlist (2025)
Source: Ebook @everand_us
“Stone Slabs for Shaista Mahal” is a moving short story that resonates deeply with themes of patriarchy, love, hypocrisy, and resistance. It explores the struggles of a woman trying to break free from societal limitations, alongside her husband, whose liberal facade masks the truth of his behavior. The narrative struck me as disturbingly familiar, reflecting a troubling societal norm, especially where jokes about marriage after a spouse's death reveal a deeper entitlement some men feel to pursue their desires without considering the consequences. (Don’t get me wrong; I am not taking a stance for or against it.) We will see that it is not even a joke!
The style of the story was straightforward, which, while perhaps less sophisticated, effectively conveyed its themes. The author's approach reminded me of cinematic storytelling, where the narrator engages directly with the audience, only to rewind and provide necessary background. However, as the story becomes more serious, the author/narrator seems to abandon this feature. This blend of personal reflection, narrative technique, and the lack of language for our narrator to call her husband by any available word connected to “husband” helped illustrate the protagonist’s sense of disconnection, particularly in her struggle with language and identity within a patriarchal context.
Among several compelling dynamics, the relationship between the characters was especially striking, marked by tension and underlying distrust. The author skillfully highlights the disturbing reality of women being confined to domestic roles, exemplified by Asifa's situation, while critiquing symbols like the Taj Mahal, which inaccurately represent love and ultimately contribute to Shaista's tragic fate. Overall, this story leaves a lasting impression and provokes thoughts about societal norms and the complexities of interpersonal relationships in a deeply patriarchal society.
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