‘Heart Lamp’ shines bright: First Kannada work wins International Booker Prize for translated fiction
First win for an Indian translator since the prize adopted its current form in 2016; first time a short story collection has been awarded
In a landmark moment for Indian literature, Banu Mushtaq has become the first Kannada-language author to win the International Booker Prize for translated fiction.
Her short story collection, “Heart Lamp,” written over the span of more than 30 years, earned her the prestigious award at a ceremony held on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, at London’s Tate Modern Museum, according to DW.COM
At 77 years old, Mushtaq shares the £50,000 prize with her translator, Deepa Bhasthi, who also played a key role in selecting the stories included in the celebrated volume.
This marks a series of firsts: the first time a Kannada work has won, the first time a short story collection has been awarded, and the first win for an Indian translator since the prize adopted its current form in 2016.
Renowned author Max Porter, chair of the five-member judging panel, praised the collection as “something genuinely new for English readers,” lauding its life-affirming narratives, linguistic richness, and sharp insights into themes such as women’s rights, caste, power, and faith.
“These beautiful, busy, life-affirming stories rise from Kannada, interspersed with the extraordinary socio-political richness of other languages and dialects,” said Porter.
In her heartfelt acceptance speech, Mushtaq framed her win not as an individual triumph but as a shared victory, “This moment feels like a thousand fireflies lighting a single sky — brief, brilliant, and utterly collective,” she said. “I receive this award not as an individual but as a voice raised in chorus with so many others.”
“Heart Lamp” reflects the multilingual texture of southern India, an aspect Bhasthi worked to preserve in her translation. Written between 1990 and 2023, the stories are praised for their dry, gentle humor, witty narrative style, and their bold exploration of patriarchy, casteism, and religious conservatism.
With this groundbreaking recognition, Banu Mushtaq and Deepa Bhasthi have not only expanded the global readership for Kannada literature but also spotlighted the power of translation in bringing diverse voices to the world stage.
