<p>May 20, 2025, marks a historic day in the world of South Indian literature. Heart Lamp, a collection of Kannada short stories by Banu Mushtaq translated into English by Deepa Bhasthi, has won the International Booker Prize 2025.</p>.<p>Banu Mushtaq, a native of Hassan, has been crafting short stories for over three decades. A lawyer by profession and a fierce feminist and activist by conviction, she is known not only for her quiet grace and warm smile but also for her lion-hearted commitment to justice. Through her poignant and powerful storytelling, she has long been a voice for the silenced women of her world.</p>.<p>Deepa Bhasthi, a journalist turned full-time translator from Kodagu, has brought these stories to life in English with passion and precision. A dreamer, a fighter, and a dedicated literary artist, her translation radiates fidelity and feeling.</p>.<p>Together, this formidable writer-translator duo, supported by the sharp literary acumen of agent Kanishka Gupta, has brought the International Booker Prize home to South India. Kudos to all three. This triumph is more than an award; it is a recognition of the richness, depth, and power of South Indian literature on the global stage.</p>.<p>Announcing the prize at the Tate Modern in London, Max Porter, Chair of the International Booker Prize 2025 judges, said, “Heart Lamp is something genuinely new for English readers. A radical translation that ruffles language to create new textures in a plurality of Englishes. It challenges and expands our understanding of translation. These beautiful, busy, life-affirming stories rise from Kannada, interspersed with the extraordinary socio-political richness of other languages and dialects. It speaks of women’s lives, reproductive rights, faith, caste, power, and oppression.</p>.<p>“This was the book the judges 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. We are thrilled to share this timely and exciting International Booker Prize 2025 winner with readers worldwide.” So precise and perfect.</p>.<p>The International Booker Prize 2025 win for Heart Lamp is more than a moment of celebration—it is a watershed in South India’s literary history. This recognition has been a long time coming for a region with a literary tradition spanning over 2,500 years.</p>.<p>South India’s four major languages—Kannada, Telugu, Malayalam, and Tamil—have contributed profoundly to the global canon of literature. Their epics, poetry, philosophical treatises, and fiction are equal to, if not richer than, those of any other linguistic tradition. Yet, much of this literary wealth has remained veiled from the world, hidden behind the formidable wall of language.</p>.<p>Translation has always been the only bridge capable of spanning this divide. Only through skilful, empathetic translations can the world truly experience the beauty and power of South Indian storytelling.</p>.<p>Over the past three decades, serious efforts have brought these voices to the global stage. Writers like U R Ananthamurthy and Perumal Murugan came tantalisingly close to international accolades, sparking attention and admiration, yet falling just short of prizes like the Booker. Along the way, many authors, translators, and literary agents have worked tirelessly—often in obscurity—to champion South Indian literature beyond its linguistic borders. Despite their passion, tangible global recognition remained elusive.</p>.<p>In this overcast literary horizon, Heart Lamp shines brightly—like its name, a guiding light in the fog. This win is not merely about one book or one writer–translator duo; it symbolises the global unlocking of a vast and vibrant literary trove. The message is clear: there are more such hidden gems in South Indian languages, waiting to be discovered, translated, and celebrated.</p>.<p>Literary agents like Kanishka Gupta have long believed in this potential. His unwavering efforts to spotlight voices like Banu Mushtaq’s have now been vindicated on the most prestigious platforms. This victory will likely inspire fresh interest among international publishers, critics, and translators to explore the treasures south of the Vindhyas.</p>.<p>Names like Kuvempu, Shivaram Karanth, Poornachandra Tejaswi, Devanur Mahadeva, M T Vasudevan Nair, Vaikom Muhammad Basheer, M Mukundan, K R Meera, Ashokamitran, Jayakanthan, B Jeyamohan, and Imayam, among many more, are new voices that are not just regional luminaries – they are authors whose works deserve a rightful place in world literature. The path forward is clear: these voices can claim their place on the global stage only through high-quality translations.</p>.<p>With Heart Lamp, that long-awaited day has dawned. The reckoning has begun, and the world is finally gazing southward in India.</p>.<p><em>(The writer is an author, journalist and festival director, ‘Book Brahma Literature Festival’)</em></p>
<p>May 20, 2025, marks a historic day in the world of South Indian literature. Heart Lamp, a collection of Kannada short stories by Banu Mushtaq translated into English by Deepa Bhasthi, has won the International Booker Prize 2025.</p>.<p>Banu Mushtaq, a native of Hassan, has been crafting short stories for over three decades. A lawyer by profession and a fierce feminist and activist by conviction, she is known not only for her quiet grace and warm smile but also for her lion-hearted commitment to justice. Through her poignant and powerful storytelling, she has long been a voice for the silenced women of her world.</p>.<p>Deepa Bhasthi, a journalist turned full-time translator from Kodagu, has brought these stories to life in English with passion and precision. A dreamer, a fighter, and a dedicated literary artist, her translation radiates fidelity and feeling.</p>.<p>Together, this formidable writer-translator duo, supported by the sharp literary acumen of agent Kanishka Gupta, has brought the International Booker Prize home to South India. Kudos to all three. This triumph is more than an award; it is a recognition of the richness, depth, and power of South Indian literature on the global stage.</p>.<p>Announcing the prize at the Tate Modern in London, Max Porter, Chair of the International Booker Prize 2025 judges, said, “Heart Lamp is something genuinely new for English readers. A radical translation that ruffles language to create new textures in a plurality of Englishes. It challenges and expands our understanding of translation. These beautiful, busy, life-affirming stories rise from Kannada, interspersed with the extraordinary socio-political richness of other languages and dialects. It speaks of women’s lives, reproductive rights, faith, caste, power, and oppression.</p>.<p>“This was the book the judges 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. We are thrilled to share this timely and exciting International Booker Prize 2025 winner with readers worldwide.” So precise and perfect.</p>.<p>The International Booker Prize 2025 win for Heart Lamp is more than a moment of celebration—it is a watershed in South India’s literary history. This recognition has been a long time coming for a region with a literary tradition spanning over 2,500 years.</p>.<p>South India’s four major languages—Kannada, Telugu, Malayalam, and Tamil—have contributed profoundly to the global canon of literature. Their epics, poetry, philosophical treatises, and fiction are equal to, if not richer than, those of any other linguistic tradition. Yet, much of this literary wealth has remained veiled from the world, hidden behind the formidable wall of language.</p>.<p>Translation has always been the only bridge capable of spanning this divide. Only through skilful, empathetic translations can the world truly experience the beauty and power of South Indian storytelling.</p>.<p>Over the past three decades, serious efforts have brought these voices to the global stage. Writers like U R Ananthamurthy and Perumal Murugan came tantalisingly close to international accolades, sparking attention and admiration, yet falling just short of prizes like the Booker. Along the way, many authors, translators, and literary agents have worked tirelessly—often in obscurity—to champion South Indian literature beyond its linguistic borders. Despite their passion, tangible global recognition remained elusive.</p>.<p>In this overcast literary horizon, Heart Lamp shines brightly—like its name, a guiding light in the fog. This win is not merely about one book or one writer–translator duo; it symbolises the global unlocking of a vast and vibrant literary trove. The message is clear: there are more such hidden gems in South Indian languages, waiting to be discovered, translated, and celebrated.</p>.<p>Literary agents like Kanishka Gupta have long believed in this potential. His unwavering efforts to spotlight voices like Banu Mushtaq’s have now been vindicated on the most prestigious platforms. This victory will likely inspire fresh interest among international publishers, critics, and translators to explore the treasures south of the Vindhyas.</p>.<p>Names like Kuvempu, Shivaram Karanth, Poornachandra Tejaswi, Devanur Mahadeva, M T Vasudevan Nair, Vaikom Muhammad Basheer, M Mukundan, K R Meera, Ashokamitran, Jayakanthan, B Jeyamohan, and Imayam, among many more, are new voices that are not just regional luminaries – they are authors whose works deserve a rightful place in world literature. The path forward is clear: these voices can claim their place on the global stage only through high-quality translations.</p>.<p>With Heart Lamp, that long-awaited day has dawned. The reckoning has begun, and the world is finally gazing southward in India.</p>.<p><em>(The writer is an author, journalist and festival director, ‘Book Brahma Literature Festival’)</em></p>