Fatima Bhutto facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Fatima Bhutto
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Bhutto at an event in 2019
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| Born | 29 May 1982 Kabul, Afghanistan |
| Occupation | Writer, columnist |
| Nationality | Pakistani |
| Alma mater | Barnard College, Columbia University (BA) SOAS University of London (MA) |
| Spouse |
Graham Byra
(m. 2023) |
| Relatives | Bhutto family |
Fatima Bhutto (born 29 May 1982) is a Pakistani writer and columnist. She is known for her books and articles. Fatima is the daughter of politician Murtaza Bhutto. She is also the granddaughter of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, who was a former prime minister and president of Pakistan.
Fatima Bhutto was born in Kabul, Afghanistan. She grew up in Syria and Karachi, Pakistan. She studied at Barnard College in New York City. Later, she earned a master's degree from the SOAS University of London. Bhutto has written for newspapers like The News and The Guardian.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Where Fatima Bhutto Grew Up
Fatima Bhutto was born on May 29, 1982. Her parents were Murtaza Bhutto and Fauzia Fasihudin Bhutto. Her father was living away from Pakistan at that time. This was during the military rule of General Zia-ul-Haq.
When Fatima was three years old, her parents separated. Her father took her with him as they moved between countries. This meant she grew up without a fixed nationality for some time. In 1989, her father married Ghinwa Bhutto in Syria. Ghinwa was a ballet teacher from Lebanon. Fatima considers Ghinwa her true mother. Fatima also has a half-brother, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Jr., who is an artist.
Her Family Background
Fatima Bhutto's grandparents were Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Nusrat Bhutto. Nusrat was from Iran. Fatima is also the niece of Benazir Bhutto, who was a former prime minister. Her father, Murtaza Bhutto, passed away in 1996 in Karachi. Fatima lives with her stepmother in Old Clifton, Karachi.
Her College Studies
Fatima Bhutto went to the Karachi American School for her high school education. She then moved to the United States for college. In 2004, she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. She studied Middle Eastern and Asian languages and cultures at Barnard College. This college is part of Columbia University in New York City.
After that, she continued her studies in London. In 2005, she received a Master of Arts degree. She studied South Asian topics at the SOAS, University of London. For her master's project, she wrote about a resistance movement in Pakistan.
Career as a Writer
Her First Books
Fatima Bhutto started writing at a young age. In 1998, when she was 15, she published her first book. It was called Whispers of The Desert. Her second book was titled 8.50 a.m. 8 October 2005. This book focused on the 2005 Kashmir earthquake. It shared stories from people who were affected by the earthquake.
Books About Her Family and Fiction
In 2010, Fatima Bhutto published a book about her family. It was called Songs of Blood and Sword. In this book, she shared her views on her family's history. Some critics had mixed opinions about the book.
In November 2013, her first novel was published. It was a fictional story called The Shadow Of The Crescent Moon. This book was recognized and long-listed for the Baileys Women's Prize for Fiction in 2014. In 2015, she released a short story as an e-book. It was titled Democracy and published by Penguin Books.
Her second novel, The Runaways, came out in 2019. This book explores the journey of three young Muslim men. It looks at how they become involved in extreme ideas. The novel was praised for its important topic. In October of the same year, she published New Kings of the World: Dispatches from Bollywood, Dizi and K-Pop. This book explores popular culture from Asia.
Her Views on Politics
After her aunt, Benazir Bhutto, passed away in 2007, some people thought Fatima might enter politics. However, she has said that she prefers to work through her writing and activism. She believes that family dynasties in politics can affect Pakistan. So, she has chosen not to seek an elected political role. Even though she is active in discussions about politics, she is not part of any political party.
Fatima Bhutto also helps other writers from South Asia. She leads climate projects at the SouthAsia Speaks Literary Fellowship.
Personal Life
On April 27, 2023, Fatima Bhutto married Graham Byra. He is from the United States. Their wedding ceremony took place at Fatima's family home in Karachi. Graham Byra adopted the name Gibran after becoming a Muslim. He has a Master of Arts degree in organizational psychology from Columbia University.
Fatima Bhutto describes herself as a cultural Muslim and a secularist. She has often spoken in support of Islam. She has also supported Muslim women's right to wear the burqa.
See also
In Spanish: Fatima Bhutto para niños
