In a moment of literary triumph, Banu Mushtaq, a veteran Kannada writer, has made history by winning the prestigious 2025 International Booker Prize. Her short story collection Heart Lamp, originally written in Kannada and translated into English by Deepa Bhasthi, marks a series of firsts — the first work in Kannada and the first short story collection ever to receive this global honour.
The International Booker Prize, known for recognising the finest translated fiction from around the world, awarded Mushtaq and Bhasthi jointly. The prize celebrates both the author and the translator equally, acknowledging the role of translation in giving regional voices a global audience.
Heart Lamp is a powerful anthology of 12 stories written over three decades. Each tale centres around the lives of Muslim women in Karnataka, weaving narratives of identity, resilience, quiet rebellion, and everyday struggle. Mushtaq’s deep-rooted connection to the Bandaya Sahitya movement reflects in her stories — bold, sharp, and unafraid to challenge caste, gender, and societal expectations.
Now 77, Mushtaq’s win is not just personal recognition but a milestone for regional Indian literature. Her storytelling is simple yet layered, intimate yet universally relevant. With sparse prose and a keen eye for detail, she brings out characters rarely spotlighted in mainstream writing.
The collection’s English translation by Deepa Bhasthi plays a pivotal role in this global success. Her thoughtful and faithful interpretation of the original Kannada text ensures that the emotional depth and cultural nuances are retained. This collaboration between writer and translator bridges not just language, but also continents and audiences.
Mushtaq’s family in Hassan, Karnataka, celebrated the win with joy and pride. Her journey wasn’t easy. She balanced her literary pursuits with personal challenges, including mental health struggles after childbirth. Yet her commitment to writing never wavered, and Heart Lamp stands today as a testament to decades of quiet endurance and powerful expression.
This win also continues the upward trajectory of Indian literature on the global map. After Geetanjali Shree’s 2022 win for her Hindi novel Tomb of Sand, Mushtaq’s recognition marks another leap for Indian voices in translation. It showcases the diversity, depth, and richness of Indian writing in regional languages, urging the world to look beyond the usual literary centres.Heart Lamp not only amplifies stories from the margins but also ignites a beacon for underrepresented voices everywhere. It reminds the world that great literature doesn’t always come from the centre — sometimes, it glows from the periphery with unmatched brilliance.
