Heart Lamp by Banu Mushtaq Wins 2025 International Booker Prize
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On May 20, 2025, Kannada author Banu Mushtaq’s Heart Lamp, translated into English by Deepa Bhasthi, was awarded the International Booker Prize. This is the first time a work originally written in Kannada and the first short story collection have won this prestigious award.
Heart Lamp comprises 12 stories written between 1990 and 2023, focusing on the lives of Muslim women in southern India. The narratives explore themes such as gender inequality, societal expectations, and personal resilience. Mushtaq, a lawyer and women’s rights activist, drew inspiration from real-life experiences and her advocacy work.
Translator Deepa Bhasthi, who hails from Kodagu, Karnataka, described her translation approach as “translating with an accent,” aiming to preserve the cultural nuances of the original text. She is the first Indian translator to receive the International Booker Prize.
The £50,000 prize is shared equally between the author and the translator. The win has been celebrated as a significant achievement for regional Indian literature and has brought international attention to Kannada literary works.
