Surprised by reading culture in West: Banu Mushtaq

Bengaluru: “My English publisher has been able to do a business of about Rs 6 crore”, said veteran Kannada writer Banu Mushtaq, the recipient of the International Booker
Prize.

She was speaking at a programme held at Gandhi Bhavan in Bengaluru. This was her first programme after she returned from London, where her short story collection ‘Heart Lamp’ won the International Booker Prize 2025. Deepa Bhasthi has translated this work into English. 

The Karnataka Union of Working Journalists, along with Bahuroopi, Karnataka Gandhi Smaraka Nidhi and Karnataka Journalists’ Association, felicitated Banu Mushtaq on Wednesday at Gandhi Bhavan.

“I was surprised by the reading culture there,” she added.

“Deepa (Bhasthi) and I were taken to many bookstores. There, people buy tickets to come listen to writers. Immediately after the event, all of them rushed to stand in a line to get their books signed. There were about 200 of them. I signed all of their copies in Kannada,” she said. 

‘Heart Lamp’ will be translated into 35 other languages. 

She said she did not know what Booker meant. “My only desire was for my stories to be translated into English and I get more readers. But the day after the book was longlisted, I was getting ready to go to court, and I was suddenly surrounded by a host of journalists and camera persons,” Banu shared. 

Banu said she wrote her acceptance speech about three days before the event. “I prepared myself mentally that I must get the award,” she said.

The Booker Prize event allows only one person, along with the nominee. When she was trying to figure out what could be done, her other two daughters were somehow able to get hold of the invite.

“I was there along with all three daughters. But as soon as the award was announced, I just sat down for a few minutes in disbelief,” she shared. 

Shivananda Tagadooru, president of the Karnataka Union of Working Journalists, G N Mohan of Bahuroopi, CM’s media advisor K V Prabhakar, journalists Padma Shivamogga, K N Chennegowda and Media Acadent Chairperson Ayesha Khannum were present at the event. 

Shivananda Tagadooru said, “Banu Mushtaq first worked as a journalist and that’s why we wanted to felicitate her as soon as she landed in Bengaluru.” 

Banu worked for about 10 years as a journalist for Lankesh Patrike, edited by writer P Lankesh. 

Banu will attend literary festivals across the world in the coming days. Theatre person, singer and actor B Jayashree also felicitated Banu on the occasion.