This conversation is between Dr Sabiha Bhoomigowda, retired Vice Chancellor of Karnataka State Women’s Akkamahadevi University, Vijayapura, and scholar Dr Sukanya Kanarally who has kindly interviewed Dr Sabiha on behalf of MBM. Dr Sabiha is a literary critic and was a friend of the late Kannada author, Sara Aboobacker.

This episode is dedicated to discussing Sara Aboobacker’s journey as a writer who was deeply influenced by her background as a Muslim woman from the Beary community - predominantly based in the South-Western coast of India. Sara wrote about the issues and prejudices concerning Muslim women within the community often at the hands of the clergy class. 

Her breakthrough novel, Chandragiriya Teeradalli, translated into English as Breaking Ties or Nadira, established her as the leading Muslim woman writer in Kannada literature. A progressive writer, she used her voice and writing as mediums not just to express support for Muslim women’s rights, but also gender equality, women’s education, communal harmony and stand against caste or religious-based discrimination, violence and injustice. She was awarded the Karnataka Sahitya Akademi Award in 1984; followed by other recognitions for her contribution to Kannada literature. 

Sara Aboobacker passed away in January 2023 at the age of 86, but has left behind a legacy of progressive writings and thinking that continues to influence writers and scholars beyond Kannada literature. 

At the beginning of this episode, you will hear me in conversation with scholar Dr Sukanya Kanarally, who has kindly translated Dr Sabiha’s responses to my questions. Post the English introduction, the conversation is between Dr Sabiha Bhoomigowda and Dr Sukanya in Kannada. The full English transcript of this conversation is available on MBM’s website, that is mainbhimuslim.com.

This interview was conducted in Kannada, and the English transcript can be found on MBM's website.

About Dr Sabiha Bhoomigowda

Dr. Sabiha Bhoomigowda, retired Vice Chancellor of Karnataka State Women’s Akkamahadevi University, Vijayapura, began her career as an Assistant Professor in Kannada at SVP College, Mangalore and continued to serve as a Professor and Head of the Department of Kannada. She served as the Director-in-charge at the Centre for Post-graduate Studies, Mangalore University, at Chikka Aluvara. She has successfully completed seven research projects alongside supervising many students in their doctoral research. 

Dr. Sabiha Bhoomigowda is a writer too. She has published twenty books that span across genres like poetry, short story, essay, life story, literary criticism, column writing, and women’s studies. She has known Sara Aboobacker from close quarters as a friend and a critic. She has been one of the editors of Sara Aboobacker’s felicitation volume. She has also co-edited twenty seven research and literary works. Several of her poems, short stories and essays have been anthologised in the university textbooks. 

Dr. Sabiha Bhoomigowda strongly believes that there should be no chasm between academics and social activism and that the society truly benefits only from such integrity. She has served as the President of Karavali Women Writers and Readers for two terms. She has also been serving Karnataka State Federation for Atrocity Against Women since its very inception.

Selected episode notes

* Sara Aboobacker’s biography (Sahitya Akademi, 2011)

* Sara Aboobacker, a Critical Insider Who Challenged Gender Hegemony and Oppression (The Wire, 2023)

* The Brahmanisation of Textbooks in Karnataka (Round Table India, 2022)

* Selected Writings by Sara Aboobacker (The Library of Congress)

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