Sanam Maher's 'The Sensational Life & Death of Qandeel Baloch' shortlisted for Shakti Bhatt prize

The book is shortlisted alongside five other titles for the Shakti Bhatt First Book Prize

Updated 11 Nov, 2019

Journalist Sanam Maher's The Sensational Life and Death of Qandeel Baloch has been shortlisted for India's Shakti Bhatt First Book Prize 2018.

The First Book Prize was set up by the Shakti Bhatt Foundation in 2008 to encourage authors from the sub-continent. The prize is a cash award of INR200,000 and a trophy.

She has been shortlisted alongside five other authors, including Preti Taneja (We That Are Young), Sujatha Gidla (Ants Among Elephants), Deepak Unnikrishnan (Temporary People), Aanchal Malhotra (Remnants of a Separation) and Shreevatsa Nevatia (How to Travel Light).

In the nomination announcement, Maher's Qandeel Baloch is described as "a testimony to the short, incandescent and courageous life of this Pakistani social media personality, murdered for the family’s honour by her brother. Through the story of Qandeel’s life and death, Maher shows us what it means to be a woman who defies convention in a patriarchal society."

The prize winner will be announced in November.

Comments

sara Aug 09, 2018 12:48pm

Whether this book gets the 1st prize or not, it has served the purpose of the author by bringing into light, the dark side of our society. I do not know whether Qandeel Baloch was right or wrong but what befell her was surely a tragedy. And above all the person who is responsible for the whole incident of this heinous crime should be accounted for.

Recommend

Alanore Aug 09, 2018 02:39pm

I don’t know who Qandeel Baloch is she was not a singer, a model or actress. What did she accomplish or achieved? She was popular for all wrong reasons. So why write a book on her and on top of that give the book a reward.

Recommend

Erum Aug 09, 2018 09:11pm

@Alanore , Qandeel Baloch was a BRAVE woman , a FREE soul who rebelled and stood up against misogynist mindset. She decided to live her life on her own terms. How many of us have that courage?

Recommend