Kannada Author Banu Mushtaq Wins 2025 International Booker Prize

Indian writer, lawyer, and activist Banu Mushtaq has made history by becoming the first Kannada author to win the prestigious 2025 International Booker Prize for her short story collection "Heart Lamp." The collection, originally written in Kannada and translated into English by Deepa Bhasthi—the first Indian translator to win the prize—chronicles the lives of women in patriarchal southern Indian communities over stories written across three decades. Mushtaq emphasized that her stories highlight the resilience and struggles of women subjected to societal and political oppression, drawing inspiration from personal experiences and those she has helped as an activist. The award, presented at the Tate Modern in London, was hailed as a victory for diversity and a watershed moment for Kannada and regional Indian literature on the global stage. Karnataka's Chief Minister Siddaramaiah praised the win as a proud moment for the state and its language. Mushtaq and Bhasthi will share the £50,000 prize, underscoring the importance of translation in bringing regional Indian narratives to international prominence.