Winner of International Booker Prize 2025

Banu Mushtaq has made history by becoming the first Kannada writer and the second Indian author to win the prestigious International Booker Prize. 

She shares this significant honor with her translator, Deepa Bhasthi, for their remarkable short story collection, Heart Lamp.

This win is monumental for several compelling reasons:

  • First Short Story Collection Winner: Heart Lamp is the first collection of short stories to ever clinch the International Booker Prize, an award that has traditionally favored novels.
  • First Kannada Language Winner: This marks a groundbreaking achievement, as it's the first time a book originally written in Kannada, a prominent language spoken in southern India, has received this esteemed international accolade.
  • Indian Translator's First Win: Deepa Bhasthi's win is equally noteworthy, making her the first Indian translator to be awarded the International Booker Prize. Her recognition underscores the invaluable role translators play in bridging cultures and bringing diverse literary voices to a global audience.

Published in English for the first time, Heart Lamp compiles 12 poignant stories written by Mushtaq between 1990 and 2023.

The short story collection delves into the everyday lives and profound struggles of Muslim women within patriarchal communities in Karnataka, critically examining how religion, politics, and social norms inflict suffering and impose silence.

The £50,000 prize money will be equally divided between Banu Mushtaq and Deepa Bhasthi, acknowledging the essential collaborative effort inherent in translated works. 

This win not only celebrates Banu Mushtaq's exceptional literary talent but also brings significant global attention to Kannada literature and the vital art of literary translation


More on Banu Mushtaq's Literary Journey


Banu Mushtaq, a 77-year-old lawyer and activist, stands as a prominent voice in progressive Kannada literature.

 She is a dedicated champion of women's rights and a staunch protester against caste and religious oppression. 

Her writing is widely praised for its wit, vividness, and its ability to evoke profound emotional depths through a rich, spoken style.

 The judging panel specifically lauded Heart Lamp for its 'radical translation' that effectively creates new textures in English

Banu Mushtaq has authored 6 short story collections, one novel, one essay collection and one poetry collection.

While Heart Lamp is her first full-length work translated into English, some of her other notable Kannada works include:

  • Haseena Matthu Ithara Kathegalu (2013), a compilation of five of her earlier short story collections (published between 1990 and 2012). Its English translation, Haseena and Other Stories, earned the 2024 PEN English Translate Award.
  • Hennu Haddina Swayamvara (2023).

Furthermore, her short story 'Kari Nagaragalu' was adapted into the National Award-winning film Hasina in 2004. 

Her works have also been translated into Urdu, Hindi, Tamil, and Malayalam, showcasing her widespread regional impact.


International Booker Prize


The International Booker Prize, formerly known as the Man Booker International Prize, is a highly prestigious literary award that honors outstanding works of fiction translated into English. 

Established in 2005, its primary aim is to recognize the best translated books from around the world, celebrating the efforts of both the author and the translator.

Unlike the traditional Booker Prize, which is awarded to novels written in English, the International Booker celebrates the global literary landscape by emphasizing books originally written in languages other than English. 

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The prize is awarded annually, with a cash prize split between the author and the translator. 

This recognition plays a crucial role in bringing international voices and stories to a broader audience, fostering cultural exchange and a deeper appreciation for diverse literary traditions. 

The International Booker has notably become a key platform for promoting translated literature, often bringing much-deserved attention to authors who might otherwise remain less known outside their native countries.

It's also worth remembering that the first Indian author to win the International Booker Prize was Geetanjali Shree in 2022 for her novel Tomb of Sand (originally Ret Samadhi in Hindi), translated by Daisy Rockwell.


Books shortlisted for International Booker Prize 2025


The six shortlisted works for the International Booker Prize 2025 are:

  • Heart Lamp by Banu Mushtaq, translated from Kannada by Deepa Bhasthi (India - Winner)
  • A Leopard-Skin Hat by Anne Serre, translated from French by Mark Hutchinson (France)
  • On the Calculation of Volume I by Solvej Balle, translated from Danish by Barbara J. Haveland (Denmark)
  • Perfection by Vincenzo Latronico, translated from Italian by Sophie Hughes (Italy)
  • Small Boat by Vincent Delecroix, translated from French by Helen Stevenson (France)
  • Under the Eye of the Big Bird by Hiromi Kawakami, translated from Japanese by Asa Yoneda (Japan)

Each shortlisted author and translator of International Booker Prize also receives £2,500.


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