International Booker Prize Winner Heart Lamp By Deepa Bhasthi Now On Amazon

Last month, in a historic and deeply resonant moment for Indian literature, Deepa Bhasthi won the 2025 International Booker Prize for her English translation of Heart Lamp, a collection of short stories by Kannada writer and activist Banu Mushtaq. The announcement, made at London's Tate Modern on May 20, marks a watershed in the global recognition of regional Indian voices and the transformative power of literary translation.

International Booker Prize Winner Heart Lamp By Deepa Bhasthi Now On Amazon
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A First For Kannada, A First For Short Stories

Heart Lamp is the first work translated from Kannada to win the International Booker Prize, and notably, the first short story collection ever to receive the honour. The £50,000 prize, shared between author and translator, celebrates not only the literary merit of the original work but also the artistry of its translation.

Chair of the judging panel, Max Porter, described the book as “a radical, beautiful, and life-affirming collection” and praised Bhasthi's translation as “a work of immense care and cultural fidelity.” The panel commended the way the stories “speak across borders and languages, while remaining rooted in the specific textures of southern India.”

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About The Book: Heart Lamp

Originally written in Kannada by Banu Mushtaq, Heart Lamp is a collection of twelve short stories spanning over three decades. Mushtaq, a lawyer, journalist, and women's rights advocate, drew inspiration from her work with women in patriarchal Muslim communities in Karnataka. The stories are intimate, often poignant, and always grounded in the lived experiences of women as they navigate societal constraints.

From a young girl questioning the rules of purdah to an elderly woman reclaiming her autonomy, each narrative is a quiet act of resistance. The stories are not overtly political, yet they are deeply subversive in their portrayal of female agency, resilience, and solidarity.

Deepa Bhasthi: A Translator With An Accent

International Booker Prize Winner Heart Lamp By Deepa Bhasthi Now On Amazon
Photo Credit: Amazon

Deepa Bhasthi, a writer, translator, and cultural critic, approached the translation of Heart Lamp with what she calls “an accent”- a deliberate choice to retain the cultural and linguistic textures of the original Kannada. Her translation is not a neutral rendering but a vibrant, living voice that carries the rhythm, idioms, and emotional cadences of the source language.

In interviews, Bhasthi has spoken about the political dimensions of translation, particularly when working with marginalised voices. “‘For me, translation is an instinctive practice in many ways, and I have found that each book demands a completely different process,” she mentioned in a media interview. Her work on Heart Lamp exemplifies this ethos, offering English readers a rare and authentic glimpse into a world often overlooked in mainstream literature.

Critical Acclaim And Cultural Impact

Since its release, Heart Lamp has garnered widespread acclaim for its lyrical prose, emotional depth, and socio-political relevance. Critics have highlighted the collection's ability to balance the local and the universal, offering stories that are deeply rooted in a specific cultural context yet resonate with readers worldwide.

The Booker win has sparked renewed interest in Kannada literature and regional Indian writing more broadly. Publishers are now exploring other works by Mushtaq and similar voices, and literary festivals are planning panels on translation and regional storytelling.

A Quiet Revolution In Translation

The significance of Heart Lamp's win extends beyond literary circles. It challenges long-standing hierarchies in Indian literature, where English and Hindi have often dominated the national narrative. By bringing a Kannada Muslim woman's stories to a global stage, Bhasthi and Mushtaq have opened the door for a more inclusive and representative literary canon.

This moment also underscores the evolving role of translators as co-creators. Bhasthi's nuanced, poetic rendering of Mushtaq's stories has been widely praised for its fidelity to the original while crafting a compelling English-language experience.

Amazon Author Of The Month

In the wake of her Booker win, Bhasthi has also been named Amazon's Author of the Month for June 2025- a recognition that, while secondary to the Booker, reflects the growing mainstream appeal of her work. The platform features exclusive interviews, a special Kindle edition of Heart Lamp, and curated reading lists that explore similar themes of gender, identity, and resistance.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is the significance of Heart Lamp winning the International Booker Prize?

Heart Lamp is the first Kannada-language work and the first short story collection to win the International Booker Prize. This recognition highlights the importance of regional Indian literature and the role of translation in bringing marginalised voices to a global audience.

2. Who is Banu Mushtaq, the author of Heart Lamp?

Banu Mushtaq is a lawyer, journalist, and women's rights activist from Karnataka, India. Her stories often draw from her experiences working with women in patriarchal Muslim communities, offering nuanced portrayals of resilience and agency.

3. What makes Deepa Bhasthi's translation of Heart Lamp unique?

Bhasthi's translation is described as “radical” and “with an accent,” meaning she retains the cultural and linguistic textures of the original Kannada. Her work is praised for its fidelity, poetic resonance, and ability to convey the emotional depth of Mushtaq's prose.

4. What themes are explored in Heart Lamp?

The collection explores themes such as gender, identity, memory, resistance, and community. It focuses on the lived experiences of women in southern India, often highlighting their quiet acts of defiance and moments of solidarity.

5. Where can I read or purchase Heart Lamp?

Heart Lamp is available in print and digital formats through major retailers, including Amazon, where Deepa Bhasthi is currently featured as Author of the Month. Special editions may include translator's notes and annotated versions for deeper engagement.

With the literary world now watching closely, Bhasthi is already at work on her next translation project, an ambitious novel exploring caste, ecology, and memory in rural Karnataka. She is also curating a digital archive of oral histories from the region, aimed at preserving endangered dialects and storytelling traditions.