Indian writer Banu Mushtaq has made history by becoming the first author writing in Kannada to win the prestigious International Booker Prize for her short story anthology “Heart Lamp”. The judges praised her characters as “astonishing portraits of survival and resilience”.
Mushtaq’s book captures the hardships faced by Muslim women living in southern India, a theme that is deeply personal for the author. Born in Karnataka, Mushtaq learned Kannada as a teenager after being enrolled in a convent school where it was the medium of instruction.
Her writing career began during a challenging phase in her life, when she had to balance her desire to write with societal expectations. Despite facing hate and threats from extremist groups, Mushtaq continued to write with fierce honesty, tackling issues such as women’s rights and social justice.
Mushtaq’s body of work is well-known among book lovers, but the International Booker Prize win has brought attention to her life and literary oeuvre. The prize judges praised “Heart Lamp” for its nuanced characters and plotlines, which offer a powerful reminder of the importance of literature in promoting social change.
The £50,000 prize will be shared with translator Deepa Bhasthi, who also became the first Indian translator to win an International Booker Prize.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c308qjpz9y2o