Meet Banu Mushtaq, Kannada Writer Who Made History With International Booker

Mushtaq has made history as the first Kannada author to receive the honour, bringing regional Indian writing to the forefront of global literary recognition.

In a groundbreaking moment for Indian literature, 77-year-old Kannada writer, lawyer, and activist Banu Mushtaq has been awarded the prestigious International Booker Prize for her powerful short story collection, Heart Lamp. With this win, Mushtaq has made history as the first Kannada author to receive the honour, bringing regional Indian writing to the forefront of global literary recognition.

Heart Lamp, comprising 12 deeply moving stories, portrays the everyday lives and struggles of Muslim women in Karnataka, spanning over three decades from 1990 to 2023. The collection captures themes of marginalisation, resilience, and quiet rebellion, offering an intimate glimpse into voices that are often overlooked.

Accepting the award, Mushtaq said, “This is not just my victory, but a chorus of voices often left unheard,” paying tribute to the real-life women who inspired her narratives. Deepa Bhasthi, the translator of the collection into English, was also jointly recognised with the International Booker Prize, emphasising the vital role of translation in bridging linguistic and cultural gaps.

With this recognition, Mushtaq joins an illustrious list of Indian winners that includes V.S. Naipaul, Salman Rushdie, Arundhati Roy, Kiran Desai, Aravind Adiga, and Geetanjali Shree.

Who is Banu Mushtaq?

A native of Hassan in Karnataka, Mushtaq wrote her first short story in middle school and gained public attention at 26 when her debut story was published in Prajamata, a popular Kannada magazine. Over the years, she has authored six short story collections, a novel, an essay collection, and a book of poetry.

Mushtaq draws deeply from her lived experiences and the socio-political movements she witnessed in Karnataka, including the Dalit, farmers’, and women’s movements, as well as environmental activism.

“My direct engagement with the lives of marginalised communities… gave me the strength to write,” she shared in an interview with the Booker Prize Foundation.

Unlike many writers, Mushtaq avoids formal research. Instead, she relies on her personal encounters, explaining, “…my heart itself is my field of study.”

A steadfast advocate for women’s rights, Mushtaq has long spoken out against caste and religious discrimination, using her stories as a means of resistance and reflection.

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