In a landmark achievement for Indian literature, renowned Kannada writer, lawyer, and activist Banu Mushtaq has won the prestigious International Booker Prize 2025 for her acclaimed short story collection, Heart Lamp. At 77 years old, Mushtaq is the first author writing in Kannada to receive this international honor.
Heart Lamp features twelve poignant stories that chronicle the lives and struggles of Muslim women in Karnataka over three decades, spanning from 1990 to 2023. The English translation by Deepa Bhasthi, who shares the award with Mushtaq, has brought the collection to a global audience.
With this win, Mushtaq joins the ranks of esteemed Indian authors who have previously won the Booker Prize, including V.S. Naipaul, Salman Rushdie, Arundhati Roy, Kiran Desai, Aravind Adiga, and Geetanjali Shree.
Profile of a Trailblazer
Hailing from Hassan, Karnataka, Banu Mushtaq began her literary journey early, publishing her first short story at the age of 26 in the Kannada magazine Prajamata. Over the years, she has built an impressive body of work that includes six short story collections, a novel, an essay collection, and poetry.
In an interview with the Booker Prize Foundation, Mushtaq cited her inspirations from various social movements of the 1970s in Karnataka — including the Dalit movement, farmers’ protests, language activism, women’s rights, and environmental causes — which deeply influenced her writing and worldview.
Themes and Impact
Heart Lamp portrays female characters embodying resilience and defiance against social challenges. Mushtaq’s commitment to activism extended beyond literature; she spent a decade as a journalist for a local tabloid and was an active participant in the Bandaya movement, which used literature as a tool to confront social and economic injustices. Later, she pursued law to provide for her family.
Despite facing hostility for her candid and powerful voice, Mushtaq’s literary contributions have been widely recognized. She is a recipient of accolades such as the Karnataka Sahitya Academy Award and the Daana Chintamani Attimabbe Award.
Her earlier works include Haseena Matthu Ithara Kathegalu (2013), a compilation of five short stories, and Hennu Haddina Swayamvara (2023), another significant collection.
This historic Booker Prize win not only highlights Mushtaq’s profound impact on Kannada literature but also shines a spotlight on the diverse narratives emerging from regional Indian languages on the world stage.
