Indian Author Banu Mushtaq Wins 2025 International Booker Prize for Short Story Collection Heart Lamp

Indian Author Banu Mushtaq Wins 2025 International Booker Prize for Short Story Collection Heart Lamp

Indian author and activist Banu Mushtaq has etched her name into literary history by winning the 2025 International Booker Prize for her evocative and powerful short story collection, Heart Lamp. This landmark victory marks the first time a collection of short stories has received the prestigious award, which recognizes outstanding fiction translated into English.

Originally penned in Kannada, Heart Lamp was masterfully translated into English by Deepa Bhasthi, who shares the £50,000 prize with Mushtaq. The award was announced at a ceremony held at London’s Tate Modern, where the judging panel praised both the literary merit and the cultural urgency of the work.

A Voice for the Marginalized

Heart Lamp is a searing exploration of the lives of women in southern India, delving deep into issues of reproductive rights, caste, faith, and patriarchal oppression. Mushtaq, a lawyer and prominent activist, uses fiction to illuminate the lived realities of women in communities often silenced by mainstream narratives.

In her acceptance speech, Mushtaq said, “This book is for the women whose stories are rarely heard — those caught in the crossfires of politics, tradition, and control. Fiction is how I listen to them and help others hear them too.”

A Radical Translation

Judge and author Max Porter described the translation by Bhasthi as a “radical act of empathy and courage,” lauding the way it preserved the texture and spirit of the original Kannada while making it accessible to a global audience.

“The language sings with fury, compassion, and humor,” said Porter. “This isn’t just a translation; it’s a collaboration rooted in resistance and hope.”

A Win for Kannada Literature

Mushtaq’s triumph brings unprecedented global recognition to Kannada literature, a regional language body of work often underrepresented on the international stage. Her win follows growing global interest in diverse, non-Western literary voices and marks a significant milestone for Indian regional language writers.

Deepa Bhasthi also highlighted the significance of the prize for translators, saying, “Translation is not just linguistic; it’s political. This book was a responsibility — to do justice to the voices, silences, and scars carried in the original Kannada.”

Looking Ahead

With Heart Lamp now in the international spotlight, publishers are reporting a surge in interest in both Mushtaq’s earlier writings and other works from regional Indian authors. Plans are already underway to translate Heart Lamp into multiple languages, bringing its powerful stories to an even broader readership.

Banu Mushtaq’s International Booker Prize win is more than a literary achievement — it is a rallying cry for justice, a celebration of language, and a reminder of the transformative power of stories rooted in truth.