Renowned Indian writer, lawyer, and activist Banu Mushtaq has made literary history by becoming the first Kannada author to win the International Booker Prize. Her acclaimed short story collection, titled Heart Lamp, secured the 2025 prize, marking a significant milestone for regional Indian literature on the global stage.
About International Booker Prize
The International Booker Prize is a prestigious literary award presented annually to the best work of fiction that has been translated into English and published in the United Kingdom or Ireland. It honours both the original author and the translator, emphasizing the importance of cross-cultural literary exchange.
Historical Background
Established in 2005, the prize originally recognized an author’s overall contribution to global literature, regardless of language or translation.
In 2015, the rules were revised to focus exclusively on a single work of fiction originally written in a non-English language and translated into English.
It is open to authors of any nationality, provided the work is available in English and meets the publication criteria.
The total prize money of £50,000 is shared equally between the author and translator. Additionally, each shortlisted pair receives £2,500.
The prize is administered by the Booker Prize Foundation, which also oversees the original Booker Prize for English-language fiction.
International Booker Prize 2025 Winner: Heart Lamp
The 2025 International Booker Prize was awarded to Heart Lamp, a compelling short story collection written by Banu Mushtaq and translated from Kannada by Deepa Bhasthi.
Significance of the Win:
Heart Lamp is the first collection of short stories to ever win the International Booker Prize.
It is also the first winning work originally written in Kannada, a classical South Indian language spoken widely in Karnataka.
The stories, written over three decades (1990–2023), offer a nuanced and heartfelt depiction of the lives and challenges of Muslim women in southern India.
Mushtaq’s narratives explore themes of identity, gender inequality, cultural restrictions, and social resilience, amplifying the voices of marginalised communities rarely seen in mainstream literature.
Impact And Legacy
Banu Mushtaq's victory represents a landmark achievement for Indian regional literature, spotlighting the richness and diversity of stories beyond the dominant languages like Hindi and English. The recognition of a Kannada work at such a global platform is expected to inspire more translations, open up international avenues for Indian language authors, and reaffirm the universal power of storytelling.
This win also highlights the critical role of translators, such as Deepa Bhasthi, who bridge linguistic and cultural divides, making profound regional narratives accessible to a worldwide audience.
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