Just the beginning, says Bhasthi after winning International Booker Prize
London/Madikeri:
Deepa Bhasthi
who translated Edeya Hanate (
Heart Lamp
), authored by
Banu Mushtaq
, paid rich tribute to Kannada, her mother tongue, at the glittering award ceremony at London's Tate Modern. Beginning her speech in Kannada, Bhasthi quoted a line from the iconic Rajkumar song 'Jenina Holeyo, Haalina Maleyo', calling Kannada "a river of honey, a rain of milk, and sweet ambrosia".
"What a win this is for my beautiful language," she said to resounding applause. "Kannada is one of the oldest languages on earth, and I am ecstatic that this will hopefully lead to a greater interest in reading, writing, and translating from and into the language."
Bhasthi, from Kodagu district in Karnataka, studied at Kodagu Vidyalaya and moved to Mangaluru to complete her graduation in mass communication. After stints in print media in Bengaluru, she transitioned to freelance writing and literary translation.
While Bhasthi accepted the
International Booker Prize
in London, her husband Chettira Sujan Nanaiah celebrated quietly at their farmhouse in Madikeri, Kodagu. Surrounded by five pet dogs and lush greenery, the artist-turned-farmer, said: "She's still in joyous shock. I couldn't be there with her due to other commitments, but I'm extremely proud."
The couple moved to Madikeri during the pandemic. Nanaiah, who first met Bhasthi at an art exhibition seven years ago, said he broke the news to her parents.
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"They were emotional and proud. It's a big moment for our family," he said. Calls have been pouring in, but Nanaiah remains grounded, tending to the farm and their pets. "I didn't expect her to win," he said. "I'm thrilled for her and for what it means for Kannada literature.
"
In an interview with TOI after Heart Lamp was shortlisted for the Booker, Bhasthi had recalled how Banu had approached her in 2022 to translate her stories.
Captivated by their relevance, Bhasthi quickly went to work on the project which spanned nearly three years.
"This recognition is just the beginning," she said of the Booker win. Highlighting linguistic and cultural challenges, she said, "Banu's writing incorporates many words specific to the Hassan region."
Calling translation a collaborative art, she said, "A translator is absolutely at the same level as the writer." Bhasthi's next work will be a translation of a debut author's short novel.
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