NewsFlash Daily™
15 March 
Incident at Ambedkar Bhavan event triggers debate on respect, identity and social customs
Bengaluru: Renowned writer and Booker Prize-winning author Banu Mushtaq has once again found herself at the centre of controversy after an incident during a public event in Bengaluru sparked widespread debate on social media.
The controversy erupted when Banu Mushtaq attended a public awareness convention on protecting the Constitution and democracy held at Ambedkar Bhavan. The event was organised by the Dalit Sangharsha Samiti and the M.B. Srinivas Foundation.
Footwear Issue During Tribute to Ambedkar
During the program, Banu Mushtaq paid floral tribute to the portrait of B. R. Ambedkar. However, controversy began when it was noticed that she did not remove her footwear while offering the tribute.
Event organizers reportedly requested her to remove the footwear before placing flowers. However, she declined and continued with the tribute, explaining her stance.
According to those present, she said that shoemaking is her community’s traditional occupation and footwear represents their identity and dignity, adding that she holds deep respect for it and therefore chose not to remove it.
Debate on Social Media
The incident has triggered mixed reactions online. Some people have supported Banu Mushtaq’s position, stating that Dr. B. R. Ambedkar is not a deity and therefore removing footwear is not necessary when paying respects.
Others, however, criticised the act, arguing that Ambedkar is a revered national figure and that removing footwear while offering tribute is considered a sign of respect.
Earlier Controversies
This is not the first time Banu Mushtaq has been at the centre of public debate. Earlier, when the Mysuru Dasara celebrations were inaugurated, the Karnataka government had invited her to open the festival, which sparked discussions on social media.
Around the same time, an old video of the writer went viral, where she had reportedly expressed opposition to portraying the Kannada language as Bhuvaneshwari, leading to criticism from several groups.
Despite backlash and numerous negative comments online, she went ahead with the Dasara inauguration. Later, she also responded through a lengthy social media post, stating that love is the answer to hatred, dialogue to intolerance, and truth shining through silence to insults.
Further Social Media Backlash
Another round of criticism emerged when she posted about the death of noted Kannada novelist S. L. Bhyrappa. The tone and interpretation of that post drew criticism from some sections of social media, leading to further heated discussions.
