Fantastic, But Really: ‘The award means nothing for Pakistani literature’

This does not mean that there will be a literature boon in Pakistan following this, says Faiza Sultan Khan.

KARACHI: “It’s fantastic,” said Faiza Sultan Khan, editor-at-large at the New Delhi office of global publisher Random House, while talking about the long-listing of three Pakistani authors.

“The award is in its third year and it’s the strongest longlist they have had,” Khan said.

The three Pakistani authors, Faiza said, are among the best globally. Jamil Ahmed won the Shakti Bhatt First Book Prize 2011 for ‘The Wandering Falcon,’ Muhammad Hanif received widespread appreciation for ‘Our Lady of Alice Bhatti’ and Musharraf Ali Farooqi’s ‘Between Clay and Dust’ “is outstanding.”

“The Pakistani entries are strong,” Khan said, adding the entries, in fact, “make the prize look good.”

So what does this mean for English literature in Pakistan?

“Absolutely nothing,” said Khan candidly.

“It’s an individual prize. It simply means four people produced great books this year. There may be none next year,” she said.

“This does not mean that there will be a literature boon in Pakistan following this,” Khan added.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 18^th, 2012.