77-year-old Banu Mushtaq, an influential voice from Karnataka, has made history with Heart Lamp—a stirring collection of stories about Muslim women. Here’s what you need to know about the pathbreaking author.
New Delhi, May 21, 2025 – Author and activist Banu Mushtaq has become the first Kannada writer to win the prestigious International Booker Prize, awarded for the best fiction translated into English. She shares the honour with her translator Deepa Bhasthi for the poignant short story collection “Heart Lamp”, which delicately portrays the everyday lives of Muslim women in Karnataka.
Her win marks only the second time an Indian book has received the award, following Geetanjali Shree’s “Tomb of Sand” in 2022.
Five Things To Know About Banu Mushtaq:
1. Trailblazer in Kannada Literature
At 77, Mushtaq has made history as the first Kannada author to receive the International Booker Prize. Reflecting on the moment, she said:
“This feels like a thousand fireflies lighting a single sky – brief, brilliant and utterly collective.”
2. Fierce Advocate for Women’s Rights
Mushtaq is not only a literary voice but also a strong advocate for gender justice and social reform. Her stories expose the ways in which religion, politics, and patriarchal norms burden women with blind obedience. In her own life, she challenged societal expectations by marrying a man of her choice, defying traditional constraints.
3. Started Writing In School, Published At 26
Her literary journey began in middle school, but her breakthrough came at 26, when her first story was published in Prajamata, a leading Kannada magazine. Raised in a large Muslim family, she was encouraged by her father to fight for her voice—even against strict school authorities.
4. Influenced by Progressive Movements
Mushtaq’s writing is deeply rooted in the progressive literary traditions of Karnataka, particularly the Bandaya Sahitya movement—a protest-oriented genre that challenged caste, class, and systemic oppression. Her lived experiences and interaction with marginalized communities helped shape the raw authenticity of her narratives.
5. A Celebrated Literary Career
Apart from Heart Lamp, Mushtaq has authored six short story collections, a novel, an essay collection, and a poetry volume. She has received several accolades, including the Karnataka Sahitya Academy Award and the Daana Chintamani Attimabbe Award. Key compilations include Haseena Matthu Ithara Kathegalu (2013) and Hennu Haddina Swayamvara (2023).
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Banu Mushtaq, Heart Lamp, International Booker Prize 2025, Kannada Literature, Deepa Bhasthi, Bandaya Sahitya, Indian Authors, Muslim Women in Literature, Karnataka Writers, Women Empowerment