Sanam Maher’s Book on the life and death of Qandeel baloch shortlisted for Shakti Bhatt Prize 2018

Pakistani journalist, Sanam Maher greeted her fans this morning with an amazing news! Her book The Sensational Life and Death of Qandeel Baloch, based on the life and murder of the late social media sensation, Qandeel Baloch has been shortlisted for India’s Shakti Bhatt First Book Prize 2018.

Sanam took the news to Twitter to share it with her fans and loved ones and wrote how fantastic she was feeling after her book along with five other books got shortlisted for the Shakti Bhatt Prize.

Shakti Bhatt Foundation introduced the First Book Prize back in 2008 in order to encourage talented authors from all over the sub-continent to come forth and take part in this competition. The winning prize consists of a cash reward of 200,000 Indian rupees and a trophy.

The five other books alongside Sanam Maher’s The Sensational Life and Death of Qandeel Baloch are Preti Taneja’s We That Are Young, Sujatha Gidla’s Ants Among Elephants, Deepak Unnikrishnan’s Temporary People, Aanchal Malhotra’s Remnants of a Separation and finally, Shreevasta Nevatia’s How To Travel Light.

During the nomination announcement for the Shakti Bhatt prize, Maher’s book was 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.”

We sure are desperately waiting along with Sanam herself for the winner to be announced. Until then, lets keep our fingers crossed till November and wish Sanam Maher all the very best for her book!