Mysuru: International Booker Prize winner Banu Mushtaq has pushed back against claims of declining readership and the sidelining of short stories, asserting that the reading culture is thriving. “My experience is the opposite. The reading culture is growing,” Banu said during an interaction with the reporters in Mysuru on Saturday.Banu, who won the International Booker Prize for a Kannada short story collection, said her writing is rooted in political consciousness and real life. “Writing is inherently political,” she said. “My Muslim women characters represent all women who face oppression in patriarchal societies,” she added.She expressed displeasure over scepticism surrounding short story collections. “I was informed that I should not have much hope for the collection of short stories, which angered me. In Western countries, I am asked about the book references and academic references in my stories. My answer for them was I have only true life references,” she added. Banu said her writings in Kannada too drew criticism. “When I criticised the silence of Bhishmacharya during the insult to Draupadi, I was criticised by a section of society. When I started to write stories in Kannada shedding light on the life and struggles of Muslim women, I received criticism. The critics wanted me to write in Urdu as Kannada writings make the world know the sufferings,” she said.On muted responses from some literary circles and no wishes from the PM, she said, “Characters of my stories are always optimistic, and they never give up. Similarly, I am also optimistic that in the coming days, they may congratulate me. I believe Prime Minister Modi will congratulate me. I am hopeful about it.”On the controversy surrounding her selection to preside over the 88th Kannada Sahitya Sammelana in Ballari, she said, “I was not selected by any individual. But the executive committee of the Parishat unanimously selected me. The govt has the power to inquire if there are allegations,” Banu said. Asked about inaugurating Mysuru Dasara, she quipped, “I don’t stitch the cradle before the baby is born.”