Unknown Facts about Booker Prize Winner Banu Mushtaq

Meet the fearless author and her trailblazer translator, uncover 7 little-known truths about their path to global literacy acclaim.

Banu Mushtaq won the 2025 International Booker Prize for Heart Lamp, translated from Kannada by Deepa Bhasthi. It’s the first Kannada- language book and first short story collection to win £50,000. The story highlights the lives of Muslim women, drawn from Mushtaq’s work between 1990 and 2023. At 77, Banu Mushtaq is a lawyer and activist, making this a major win for regional Indian Literature.

Want to know what made the 2025 Book winner truly stand out? Here are 7 surprising facts about Banu Mushtaq, Deepa Bhasthi, and their path to Heart Lamp:

1. Early Literary Awakening: At just 8 years old, Banu Mushtaq mastered Kannada in a missionary school, defying her conservative family’s expectations that she focus solely on Urdu and religious studies.

2. Catalyst for Writing: She began writing at 29, channeling her postpartum depression into storytelling, which led to a prolific literary career.

3. Diverse Literary Contributions: Beyond translating Mushtaq’s work, Bhasthi has translated writings of other notable Kannada authors, including Kota Shivarama Karanth and Kodagina Gouramma, contributing significantly to bringing regional Indian literature to a global audience.

4. Cinematic Adaptation: Her story “Kari Nagaragalu” was adapted into the film Hasina (2003), which won a National Film Award for Best Actress.

5. Activism and Social Boycott: In 2000, she faced a three-month social boycott for advocating Muslim women’s right to enter mosques.

6. Multilingual Reach: While primarily writing in Kannada, her works have been translated into Urdu, Hindi, Tamil, and Malayalam, broadening her audience.

7. Award-Winning Translator: Deepa Bhasthi, who translated Heart Lamp, won the English PEN Translates award, marking the first time an Indian translator received this honor.

1. Roots in Kodagu: Deepa Bhasthi hails from Kodagu (Coorg), a region renowned for its rich cultural heritage and coffee plantations.

2. Diverse Writing Portfolio: Beyond translation, Bhasthi’s essays and cultural critiques have been featured in over forty national and international publications, including The Paris Review, The Guardian, and The Hindu.

3. Championing Kannada Literature: She has translated works of prominent Kannada authors like Kota Shivarama Karanth and Kodagina Gouramma, bringing regional literature to a broader audience.

4. Innovative Translator: In translating Heart Lamp, Bhasthi retained Kannada expressions like “anthe” and “abbabbaa” to preserve the cultural essence, adding a unique “Kannada hum” to the English rendition.

5. Cultural Immersion: To authentically translate Banu Mushtaq’s stories, she immersed herself in the cultural context by consuming music, books, and visual content from the community depicted in the narratives.

6. Advocate for Translators: Bhasthi views translation as a collaborative act, emphasizing that translators are co-creators who bring stories to new audiences while preserving their original essence.

7. Recognition and Awards: Her translation of Heart Lamp not only won the English PEN Translates award but also made her the first Indian translator to win the International Booker Prize.