Indian author Banu Mushtaq and translator Deepa Bhasthi won the International Booker Prize for their work “Heart Lamp,” a collection of 12 short stories that depict the everyday lives and struggles of women in southern India. The announcement was made by author Max Porter at a ceremony at London’s Tate Modern, marking the first time a collection of short stories has received this honor. Bhasthi is notable as the first Indian translator to win the prize since it was restructured in 2016, and Mushtaq is the sixth female author to be recognized.
The stories, originally written in Kannada—a language spoken by around 65 million people—span over 30 years, from 1990 to 2023. Porter highlighted the "radical" nature of the translation and described the narratives as beautiful, life-affirming tales that reflect the socio-political landscape of the region. The stories address themes such as women’s lives, reproductive rights, faith, caste, and the dynamics of power and oppression.
Bhasthi curated the collection to retain the multilingual essence of southern India. Mushtaq, who is also a lawyer and activist, expressed that the stories explore how societal, political, and religious structures impose obedience on women, often subjecting them to cruelty and subjugation. The prize of £50,000 (approximately $66,000) will be shared equally between Mushtaq and Bhasthi, with each receiving a trophy. The International Booker Prize is awarded annually and runs alongside the Booker Prize for English-language fiction, which will be presented later in the year.
Photo credit
www.nbcnews.com
