NRI PULSE STAFF REPORT
Bengaluru, INDIA, February 28, 2025: Bengaluru-based writer and activist Banu Mushtaq’s short story collection Heart Lamp has made history by becoming the first Kannada work to be longlisted for the prestigious International Booker Prize 2025. The book, translated into English by Deepa Bhasthi, is among the 13 first-time nominees on the longlist.
Published between 1990 and 2023, Heart Lamp is a compilation of 12 short stories that provide a compelling glimpse into the lives of women and girls from Muslim communities in southern India. The narratives explore complex social issues, including caste, class, and religious oppression, while maintaining a dry yet gentle humor. The International Booker Prize judges commended the collection for its fearless storytelling, stating that the stories “speak truth to power” and illuminate societal injustices.
Banu Mushtaq, a renowned writer, activist, and lawyer from Karnataka, has been a major voice in progressive Kannada literature since the 1970s. Her body of work has earned her prestigious honors, including the Karnataka Sahitya Academy Award and the Daana Chintamani Attimabbe Award.
Deepa Bhasthi, an accomplished writer and literary translator from Kodagu, expressed pride in the recognition of Heart Lamp, emphasizing that the book’s themes are universal and resonate beyond regional boundaries. She noted that the nomination highlights the power of translation in bringing local literature to a global audience.
The International Booker Prize, which celebrates the finest translated fiction from around the world, will announce its shortlist on April 8, 2025. The final winner will be revealed on May 20, 2025, at London’s Tate Modern. If Heart Lamp advances to the shortlist or wins the award, it will mark a groundbreaking achievement for Kannada literature on the international stage.
