Indian writer and environmental activist, Banu Mushtaq, has taken the world by storm. She won this year’s Booker Prize for her unputdownable, page-turning collection of short stories, “Heart Lamp.” The novel takes on new dimensions translated into English from an originally Kannada text. It includes twelve short, impactful stories that document the struggles and triumphs of women in Muslim communities in southern India. Both thrilling and thought-provoking, this trail-blazing accomplishment is a testament to Mushtaq’s superb literary genius. It shone a spotlight on the Kannada language, showcasing its rich cultural heritage.
Translated into English by Deepa Bhasthi, Heart Lamp hopes to introduce English-speaking audiences to these women’s lives, which are too often marginalized or silenced. Bhasthi emphasizes the importance of sharing these stories, stating that it is about “shining a light on the lives of people often forgotten by the world.” This thoughtful translation makes these important stories available to readers all around the world. It brings them closer to the realities and rich diversity of everyday life in Muslim communities.
Together with her experience as an activist, journalist, and now lawyer Mushtaq’s powerful storytelling comes from her lived experience. She champions women’s rights and protests against caste and religious oppression, using her platform to amplify the voices of marginalized groups. Looking back on her victory, Mushtaq told the BBC she felt “overwhelmed” and “amazed,” adding that winning the Booker Prize went beyond individual recognition.
“I’m ecstatic that this will hopefully lead to a greater interest in reading and writing and translating more, and by extension, from and into the magical languages we have in South Asia,” she said.
The Booker Prize is an annual literary award that recognizes the best work by any living author. It’s awarded to work published in English in the United Kingdom or Ireland. This year, the judges faced up to the daunting challenge of reading 154 picture books over six months to pick the winner. Mushtaq splits the AU $104,000 prize with her translator, Deepa Bhasthi, as she should, because it’s abundantly clear that their powerful work has been done collaboratively.
Upon accepting her award, Mushtaq went on to reflect on how important storytelling was to creating an understanding between communities of all backgrounds. She stated, “This book was born from the belief that no story is ever too small, that in the tapestry of human experience every thread holds the weight of the whole in a world that often tries to divide us.”
