JASMINE DAYS Paperback

Benyamin's "Jasmine Days," translated from the Malayalam by Shahnaz Habib, is a poignant and timely novel that offers a powerful human perspective on the lives of migrant workers in the Middle East during a period of political unrest. The story is narrated by Sameera Parvin, a young Pakistani radio jockey who has recently arrived in an unnamed Gulf city to work at a radio station. She is drawn to the vibrant cultural scene and the promise of a new life. However, her dreams are soon shattered as the city descends into chaos and violence, mirroring the turmoil of the Arab Spring. As Sameera navigates the escalating dangers and increasingly restrictive environment, she witnesses the harsh realities faced by the vast South Asian expatriate community, especially women, struggling for dignity and survival amidst uncertainty and upheaval. The novel, originally titled Mullappoo Niramulla Pakalukal, won the inaugural JCB Prize for Literature and serves as a vital exploration of displacement, identity, and the human cost of political instability.