Heart Lamp’ Wins the International Booker Prize: A Historic First for Kannada Literature

In a landmark moment for Indian regional literature, Heart Lamp, a short story collection by Banu Mushtaq, has won the 2025 International Booker Prize. This is the first time a Kannada language book has received this prestigious international literary award.

 

This historic recognition has brought immense pride to the Kannada-speaking community and Indian literature as a whole. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah congratulated Banu Mushtaq, calling it a “moment of literary revolution,” while authors, readers, and leaders across India celebrated the win.

 

 

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What is Heart Lamp About?

 

Heart Lamp is a powerful collection of 12 short stories written by 77-year-old Banu Mushtaq, a lawyer and writer from Karnataka. The stories reflect the lives of Muslim women in South India, covering themes like:

 

Patriarchy and oppression

 

Religious orthodoxy

 

Caste and gender discrimination

 

Emotional resilience and feminine strength

 

 

The stories span more than three decades (1990–2023) and are rooted in the Bandaya (rebellious) literary movement, known for amplifying the voices of marginalized communities. The English translation by Deepa Bhasthi was praised for its sensitive rendering of the original spirit.

 

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What is the International Booker Prize?

 

The International Booker Prize is one of the most prestigious awards in world literature. Here's what you need to know:

 

Founded: 2005

 

Focus: Celebrates translated fiction published in English in the UK or Ireland.

 

Eligibility: The original book must be written in a language other than English.

 

Prize Money: £50,000, equally divided between the author and the translator.

 

Organized by: The Booker Prize Foundation, UK.

 

 

This award shines a spotlight on global voices and promotes cross-cultural literary exchange.

 

 

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Why Does This Win Matter?

 

1. First Kannada book to win: A proud moment for regional Indian literature.

 

 

2. Spotlight on Indian women writers: Banu Mushtaq’s feminist themes echo globally.

 

 

3. Recognition for translators: Deepa Bhasthi shares the stage equally, underlining the role of translation in global literature.

 

 

4. Boost to diverse storytelling: Encourages readers to explore stories beyond mainstream narratives.

 

 

 

 

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About Banu Mushtaq

 

Age: 77

 

Profession: Lawyer, writer, social activist

 

Background: Known for bold, socially conscious writing in Kannada literature

 

Movement: Part of the Bandaya movement (a Dalit and progressive literary movement)

 

Focus: Women’s empowerment, caste and gender issues, religious critique

 

 

Her stories offer a rare and authentic look into the socio-cultural complexities of marginalized Muslim women in South India.

 

 

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India and the Booker Legacy

 

India has had notable successes in Booker history:

 

V.S. Naipaul:

Won the Booker Prize in 1973.

 

Salman Rushdie:

Won the Booker Prize in 1981 for Shame.

 

Arundhati Roy:

Won the Booker Prize in 1997 for The God of Small Things.

 

Kiran Desai:

Won the Booker Prize in 2006 for The Inheritance of Loss.

 

Geetanjali Shree:

Won the International Booker Prize in 2022 for Tomb of Sand (Ret Samadhi in Hindi), translated into English by Daisy Rockwell.

 

Banu Mushtaq:

Won the International Booker Prize in 2025 for Heart Lamp, the first Kannada language book to receive this honor.

 

 

This puts Banu Mushtaq in the esteemed league of authors who’ve broken linguistic barriers and earned global acclaim.

 

 

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Conclusion

 

Heart Lamp is more than a literary milestone—it is a cultural awakening. It signifies that stories written in Indian regional languages, deeply rooted in local realities, deserve global recognition. Banu Mushtaq’s win is a call to honor our linguistic diversity, support female voices, and embrace the richness of marginalized narratives.