Heart Lamp: Banu Mushtaq Makes History with International Booker Prize Win

Indian writer, lawyer, and activist Banu Mushtaq has made history by becoming the first author writing in the Kannada language to win the International Booker Prize with her short story anthology, Heart Lamp. The award, which recognizes outstanding literary achievement, marks a significant milestone in the recognition of regional literature in India.

Heart Lamp, featuring 12 short stories written by Mushtaq between 1990 and 2023, poignantly captures the hardships faced by Muslim women in southern India. The stories were selected and translated into English from Kannada by Deepa Bhasthi, who will share the £50,000 prize. This win is a landmark moment for regional literature, highlighting the importance of diverse voices in global literary discourse.

In her acceptance speech, Mushtaq expressed gratitude to readers for allowing her words to resonate with them. She emphasized the power of literature to connect people across divides, stating, ‘In a world that often tries to divide us, literature remains one of the last sacred spaces where we can live inside each other’s minds, if only for a few pages.’ Bhasthi, the first Indian translator to win the International Booker Prize, hopes this win will encourage more translations from and into Kannada and other South Asian languages.

Mushtaq’s body of work is well-known among book lovers, but the Booker International win has brought greater attention to her life and literary contributions. Her stories reflect the challenges faced by women in a deeply patriarchal and religiously conservative society, showcasing her ability to craft nuanced characters and compelling narratives.

Who is Banu Mushtaq?

Mushtaq grew up in a small town in the southern state of Karnataka in a Muslim neighborhood. Despite the cultural and religious norms of her time, she pursued her education with determination, studying the Quran in Urdu at school but later enrolling in a convent school where the medium of instruction was Kannada. This language became the medium of her literary expression.

She began writing while still in school and chose to pursue higher education despite societal expectations that would have seen her marry and raise children. Her early years were marked by personal challenges, including a difficult marriage and a period of intense personal struggle. These experiences deeply influenced her writing, shaping the themes of resilience and resistance that characterize her work.

Despite facing threats and hate, Mushtaq continued to write with integrity. In 2000, she received threatening phone calls after expressing support for women’s rights in mosques, leading to a fatwa against her and an attempted attack. However, these incidents did not deter her from her literary path. Instead, they reinforced her commitment to challenging oppressive societal norms through her writing.

What Does Banu Mushtaq Write About?

Heart Lamp features female characters who embody the spirit of resistance and resilience. In mainstream Indian literature, Muslim women are often reduced to stereotypes, but Mushtaq’s characters endure, negotiate, and occasionally push back against these societal constraints. Her work is a testament to the strength and complexity of women in marginalized communities.

Over the years, Mushtaq has worked as a reporter, a lawyer, and a writer, publishing six short story collections, an essay collection, and a novel. Her work has won numerous awards, including the Karnataka Sahitya Academy Award and the Daana Chintamani Attimabbe Award. In 2024, her translated English compilation of five short story collections won the PEN Translation Prize, further cementing her status as a significant literary figure in India.