Banu Mushtaq Wins International Booker Prize for Kannada Work ‘Heart Lamp’

Banu Mushtaq Makes History with International Booker Prize Win for ‘Heart Lamp’

Banu Mushtaq, an Indian writer, lawyer, and activist, achieved a significant milestone by securing the International Booker Prize for her short story anthology, “Heart Lamp”. This marks the first time a work originally written in the Kannada language gets recognition.

Heart Lamp is translated by Deepa Bhasthi in English, comprising 12 short stories penned over three decades, from 1990 to 2023. The stories give a deep insight into the lives of Muslim women in the southern part of India. These stories shed light on the struggles of women against religious conservatism and patriarchal norms. Giving the readers a glimpse of women from the marginalised community and the challenges they face.

Raised in a Muslim neighbourhood in Karnataka, she pursued her education in Kannada. In many interviews, Ms. Banu has highlighted her personal hardships, including postpartum depression and societal pressures. These experiences have influenced her storytelling art, infusing characters with authenticity and depth.

This prestigious recognition honours her literary contributions and amplifies the voices of those who are suppressed in society. Her work is an epitome of storytelling that has the power to make a social change.

Ms. Banu, in an interview, quoted, “I have consistently challenged chauvinistic religious interpretations. These issues are central to my writing even now. Society has changed a lot, but the core issues remain the same. Even though the context evolves, the basic struggles of women and marginalised communities continue.”

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