Banu Mushtaq Makes History with International Booker Prize Win

Indian author, lawyer, and activist Banu Mushtaq has made literary history by winning the International Booker Prize 2025 for her short story anthology, Heart Lamp. The award marks the first time a Kannada-language work has received this prestigious international honor. Translated into English by Deepa Bhasthi, the book highlights the nuanced struggles and resilience of Muslim women in southern India.

Why in News?

Banu Mushtaq’s Heart Lamp was awarded the International Booker Prize on May 20, 2025, in London. This is the first Kannada-language book to win the award. The recognition shines a light on the intersection of literature, gender, and cultural identity in regional Indian languages.

About the Book: Heart Lamp

• A compilation of 12 short stories written from 1990 to 2023.
• Translated into English by Deepa Bhasthi.
• Focuses on the hardships, resistance, and resilience of Muslim women in Karnataka.
• Reflects the personal experiences and sociocultural observations of the author.

About Banu Mushtaq

• Grew up in Karnataka; studied in both Urdu and Kannada.
• Married by choice at age 26, faced domestic conflict and postpartum depression.
• Former journalist, later became a lawyer.
• Associated with the Bandaya Movement that promotes literature-based social activism.

Themes & Impact

• Challenges religious orthodoxy and patriarchy.
• Depicts inner strength of women pushing against societal constraints.
• Praised for portraying women as active agents rather than passive victims.

Awards & Recognition

• International Booker Prize 2025
• Karnataka Sahitya Academy Award
• Daana Chintamani Attimabbe Award
• PEN Translation Prize 2024 for Haseena and Other Stories

Significance

• Highlights the global literary relevance of regional Indian languages.
• Inspires greater representation of marginalized voices in mainstream literature.
• Demonstrates the power of translation in making regional narratives globally accessible.