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Banu Mushtaq's 'Heart Lamp' Sparks Global Interest After Booker Win

The Kannada short story collection, translated by Deepa Bhasthi, has ignited demand for regional Indian literature and highlighted the struggles of Muslim women.

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Banu Mushtaq, author of Heart Lamp, is the first Kannada writer to have won the International Booker Prize in London.
Banu Mushtaq, author of 'Heart Lamp', right, and translator Deepa Bhasthi hold their trophies after winning the International Booker Prize, in London on May 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

Overview

  • Banu Mushtaq's 'Heart Lamp,' a collection of 12 stories focusing on Muslim women in southern India, won the 2025 International Booker.
  • The win marks the first time a Kannada work has been honored with this prize, bringing global recognition to regional Indian literature.
  • Demand for Mushtaq's work has surged, prompting a reprint of 1,000 copies of the Kannada original, 'Haseena Mattu Itara Kathegalu.'
  • Deepa Bhasthi's translation has been praised for preserving the cultural nuances of the original text, creating a 'radical' and impactful English rendition.
  • Mushtaq's stories, rooted in the Bandaya Sahitya movement, explore themes of gender, faith, and resilience, offering a voice to marginalized communities.