Quote from Alex bobby on May 22, 2025, 6:16 AM

"Heart Lamp" Shines Bright: Kannada Short Story Collection Wins International Booker Prize

In a landmark moment for Indian literature, Banu Mushtaq and Deepa Bhasthi have been awarded the 2025 International Booker Prize for “Heart Lamp”, a poignant collection of short stories that capture the everyday lives and deep-rooted struggles of women in southern India. The recognition is historic on multiple levels: it is the first time a collection of short stories has won the award, and “Heart Lamp” is the first Kannada-language work ever to receive this prestigious international honour.

A Historic Win for Indian Literature

Banu Mushtaq, a lawyer, activist, and author, has long chronicled the intricacies of womanhood, societal expectations, and systemic oppression in her native Karnataka. “Heart Lamp”, her debut English-translated work, features 12 short stories written between 1990 and 2023, exploring themes such as reproductive rights, faith, caste, power, and resistance.

These stories, many originally published in Kannada journals, were painstakingly translated and curated by Deepa Bhasthi, a writer, essayist, and translator committed to bringing marginalised voices into global literary conversations. The collection weaves a rich, multilingual tapestry of southern India, reflecting not only the diversity of its people but also the enduring power of literature to transcend borders.

With this win, Mushtaq becomes the sixth female author to receive the International Booker Prize since its 2016 restructuring. Bhasthi, notably, is the first Indian translator—and the ninth woman translator—to receive the award, a milestone for South Asian literature in translation.

A Voice for the Silenced

In her powerful acceptance speech, Mushtaq reminded the audience that, “No story is ever small; that in the tapestry of human experience, every thread holds the weight off the whole.” She dedicated the win to readers who let her words “wander into their hearts,” and to the countless women whose lives inspired her stories.

The stories in “Heart Lamp” reflect how religion, patriarchy, and societal structures often reduce women to secondary roles, enforcing silence and submission. But they also explore resilience, agency, and hope—emphasising the small acts of defiance that form the foundation of change.

Mushtaq explained during a short list reading event that her goal was to give voice to women whose stories are often overlooked: “The stories are about women – how religion, society, and politics demand unquestioning obedience from them, and in doing so, inflict inhumane cruelty upon them, turning them into mere subordinates.”

Celebrating Translation and Multilingualism

The jury praised both Mushtaq’s original work and Bhasthi’s translation for their “radical integrity” and “socio-political richness.” Chair of the judges, Max Porter—author and past Booker-longlisted novelist—described the stories as “beautiful, busy, life-affirming,” and commended the translation for preserving the multilingual essence of southern Indian life. “It’s been a joy to listen to the evolving appreciation of the stories by members of the jury,” Porter said.

Bhasthi, speaking after the win, emphasised the need to support and celebrate literary translations from Kannada and other regional South Asian languages. “This recognition gives hope that these languages, and they’re literature, will continue to find their space in the world,” she said.

Recognition and Reward

The International Booker Prize comes with a £50,000 (€44,000) cash award, split equally between the author and translator. The announcement was made at a ceremony held at London’s Tate Modern, a fitting venue for a book that pushes boundaries and reimagines literary form and language.

“Heart Lamp” triumphed over five other finalists, cementing its place as a work of exceptional literary merit and cultural significance. The collection is already sparking renewed interest in Kannada literature and could pave the way for other regional Indian languages to reach an international audience.

Broader Impacts and the Future of Indian Literature

The win arrives at a moment when global interest in Indian writing beyond English is growing. While Indian authors like Arundhati Roy, Salman Rushdie, and Jhumpa Lahiri have long commanded international acclaim, this victory marks a critical shift toward recognising India’s linguistic plurality. With over 22 officially recognised languages, India holds a vast, rich literary tradition that remains largely untapped on the global stage.

Mushtaq and Bhasthi’s win is likely to inspire a new generation of translators, editors, and publishers to explore and elevate voices from India’s regional literary cultures.

Final Thoughts

At its core, “Heart Lamp” is a celebration of the ordinary yet profound experiences that shape women’s lives. It is a reminder that great literature doesn't need grand settings or heroes—it needs truth, empathy, and courage. With this Booker Prize win, Banu Mushtaq and Deepa Bhasthi have not only brought Kannada literature to the world stage but have also illuminated the enduring power of stories to spark change, bridge cultures, and honour the resilience of women everywhere.