London [UK], May 20: Renowned Indian writer and women’s rights activist Banu Mushtaq has created history by winning the International Booker Prize 2025 for her short story anthology Heart Lamp. This is the first time a Kannada-language book and a short story collection has been awarded this prestigious international literary honour.
Originally penned in Kannada, Heart Lamp was translated into English by Deepa Bhasthi, who was also jointly honoured with the award. The collection features 12 short stories written between 1990 and 2023, capturing the everyday struggles and triumphs of women and girls in patriarchal communities of southern India.
According to the Booker Prize website, Heart Lamp marks the first English-language translation of Mushtaq’s work. The award also makes her the second Indian author to win the International Booker Prize.
Banu Mushtaq, a formidable voice in Kannada literature, has authored six short story collections, a novel, an essay collection, and a poetry collection. Her work has been previously recognized with honours like the Karnataka Sahitya Academy Award and the Daana Chintamani Attimabbe Award.
Deepa Bhasthi, a translator and writer based in Kodagu, Karnataka, has previously translated significant Kannada works, including a novel by Kota Shivarama Karanth and stories by Kodagina Gouramma.
Reacting to the win, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah congratulated both Mushtaq and Bhasthi, calling it a proud moment for Kannada, Kannadigas, and Karnataka. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), he praised Mushtaq for upholding the values of harmony, secularism, and brotherhood through her writing and thanked Bhasthi for helping Kannada literature reach a global audience.
Max Porter, Chair of the International Booker Prize 2025 judging panel, said the jury was deeply moved by Heart Lamp, calling it “a joy” to witness the evolving appreciation of the work. “This was the book the judges really loved, right from our first reading,” he added.
Heart Lamp now stands as a landmark literary achievement, amplifying Kannada literature on the world stage and opening new doors for regional Indian storytelling in translation.