'Blasphemy - The Trial of Danesh Masih' written by Osman Haneef, and published by Readomania has been long-listed at PFC VoW Book Awards 2021 for Best Fiction. The announcement was made from VoW's official Twitter handle.
The Times of India says,''Blasphemy: The Trial of Danesh Masih' tackles a tricky yet important subject of Pakistan's growing religious intolerance. The story has elements of politics, law and romance which makes it a thrilling read.' You can read an excerpt from the book on Scroll.
Osman Haneef is a tech entrepreneur-turned-debut novelist who has honed his craft by studying creative writing at Yale, Stanford, Colby, Curtis Brown Creative and the Faber Academy. His book was first published as Blasphemy: The Trial of Danesh Masih (Readomania, 2020) in India, and is now available in Pakistan as The Verdict (Reverie Publishers, 2021).
In an interview with Moneycontrol, Haneef says, 'Much of my lived experience informs the book. I spent many holidays in Quetta. The characters are amalgamations of people I have encountered but this novel does not attempt to paint a complete picture of Pakistan or even Quetta. It highlights a problematic dimension -- religious intolerance -- and celebrates the people who stand up for the marginalised.' You can read the whole interview here.
Valley of Words believes that literature and art has the potential of engaging people of all age groups, especially students and youth to look beyond the immediate, to place “facts” in perspective, to question the “why”, to engage in lateral thinking and explore options that have the potential of making the world a better place. Valley of Words encourages the young and the old alike to transcend their limitations to scale new heights, explore new passions and most importantly; discover the art of listening, engaging in critical discourse and appreciating excellence in others!
Book Blurb: A Christian boy in Pakistan is accused of blasphemy―a crime punishable by death. Haunted by a tragic past, a young lawyer named Sikander Ghaznavi returns to Pakistan after many years abroad and takes on the defence of the boy. He reaches out to the sharpest human rights lawyer he knows―the woman he has loved for years, but now another man’s wife. As they deal with their unresolved feelings, the lawyers confront a corrupt system, a town turned against them, and a prophecy that predicts their death. Will they save the boy? Or will the city of Quetta, its prejudice inflamed by religious extremists, consume them and deliver them to a deadly fate?
The book is available in paperback, e-format, and as an audiobook.
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