India, April 18 -- The Mozhi Prize 2024 for short stories was won by Kallo, which is part of a collection with the same name, written by a writer from Pakistan, Sameena Nazir. The story, which was translated from Urdu by Jaideep Pandey, is relatable in many ways including for how it deals with patriarchy.

The powerful, immersive and piquant plot that turns and twists like a village lane swept me along its high-stakes but ultimately life affirming and hopeful way. It refreshes in a contemporary, political, realistic and compassionate way the trope of abandoned women in a small town finding companionship and romance in each other's arms. I use the term 'abandoned' because it is old in terms of gender and social relations, as well as, in th...