HASSAN: “Heart Lamp,” a collection of short stories penned by city based Kannada writer Banu Mushtaq, won the prestigious International Booker Prize 2025. This book was translated from Kannada to English by Madikeri-based translator Deepa Bhasthi.Banu Mushtaq, an advocate and journalist, established herself as a writer, storyteller, poet, novelist, and social activist.At a ceremony held at London’s Tate Modern, Author Max Porter, who chaired the 2025 judging panel, revealed the victorious book – notably the first short story collection to receive this prestigious award. Max Porter said, “Heart Lamp is something genuinely new for English readers. A radical translation which ruffles language, to create new textures in a plurality of Englishes. It challenges and expands our understanding of translation.“He emphasised that these vibrant and uplifting narratives emerge from Kannada, incorporating the remarkable socio-political depth of various languages and dialects. The stories address women’s experiences, reproductive rights, faith, caste, power structures, and oppression.During the award presentation, he stated, “This was the book the judges really loved, right from our first reading. It’s been a joy to listen to the evolving appreciation of these stories from the different perspectives of the jury.”