Historic Win: Banu Mushtaq’s ‘Heart Lamp’ Brings International Booker to Kannada Literature
Kannada literary circles are buzzing with pride and excitement as Banu Mushtaq’s short story collection, ‘Heart Lamp: Selected Stories’, becomes the first-ever Kannada work to win the prestigious International Booker Prize.
The collection, translated into English by Deepa Bhasthi, marks a significant milestone not only for the author but for the entire Kannada literary community. Writers, scholars, and readers across Karnataka have hailed the win as a “momentous achievement” that will bring global recognition to the depth and richness of Kannada literature.
Published to wide acclaim, Heart Lamp illuminates the emotional and cultural landscapes of Karnataka through Mushtaq’s nuanced storytelling. The translation has been praised for preserving the lyrical quality and layered meanings of the original text while making it accessible to a global audience.
Voices from Karnataka
Renowned Kannada writers and literary critics have celebrated the win as long overdue recognition of the state’s vibrant literary tradition. Many hope that this international spotlight will encourage more translations of regional Indian literature and foster greater appreciation of voices from the linguistic heartlands.
“This isn’t just a win for Banu Mushtaq—it’s a victory for Kannada language, for women writers, and for the idea that stories rooted in the local can resonate universally,” said a senior Kannada novelist.
As the literary world applauds this milestone, Karnataka beams with pride—its language and literature having finally claimed a spot on the global bookshelf.
