LONDON — Indian writer Banu Mushtaq and translator Deepa Bhasthi were named winners of the International Booker Prize on Tuesday for their work Heart Lamp, a powerful collection of 12 short stories spanning over three decades. The book explores the everyday lives and challenges faced by women in southern India.
The announcement was made at a ceremony held at London’s Tate Modern, with acclaimed author Max Porter, who chaired the five-member judging panel, revealing the winners. Notably, this is the first time the International Booker Prize has been awarded to a short story collection.
Deepa Bhasthi has also made history as the first Indian and ninth woman to receive the prize in the translator category since the award adopted its current format in 2016. Banu Mushtaq becomes the sixth female author to win the honor during that time.
Originally penned in Kannada, a language spoken by approximately 65 million people mainly in southern India, the stories reflect a rich linguistic and cultural tapestry. Porter praised the translation as “radical” and celebrated how the jury’s appreciation for the collection deepened throughout the judging process. He described the work as “beautiful, busy, life-affirming stories” that draw strength from Kannada while integrating the socio-political nuances of other local languages and dialects. The themes range from women’s lives and reproductive rights to caste, power, faith, and oppression.
The stories, written between 1990 and 2023, were personally selected and curated by Bhasthi, who aimed to retain the region’s linguistic diversity in her translation.
Mushtaq, also known for her work as a lawyer and activist, shared during a recent shortlisted authors’ event that her stories focus on how women are forced into submission by religion, society, and politics—systems that often subject them to deep cruelty and render them subordinate.
The £50,000 ($66,000) prize will be equally split between Mushtaq and Bhasthi. Both also received trophies in recognition of their achievement.
The International Booker Prize is awarded annually and runs in parallel with the Booker Prize for English-language fiction, which will be presented in the fall.
