Latest news with #TateModern
Scroll.in
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scroll.in
‘To write in Kannada is to inherit a legacy of cosmic wonder and earthly wisdom': Banu Mushtaq
On May 20, Banu Mushtaq became the first Kannada-language writer to win the International Booker Prize. She shared the £50,000 award with her translator Deepa Bhasthi – the first Indian translator to win the award – for Heart Lamp, a collection of her selected stories. Here are the texts of their acceptance speeches at the award cermony at Tate Modern, London. Banu Mushtaq If I may borrow a phrase from my own culture: this moment feels like a thousand fireflies lighting up a single sky – brief, brilliant, and utterly collective. To even stand among these extraordinary finalists is an honour I'll never forget. And I accept this great honour not as an individual, but as a voice raised in chorus with so many others. I am happy for the entire world which is full of diversity and inclusiveness. I am happy for myself and my translator Deepa Bhasthi. This is more than a personal achievement – it is an affirmation that we, as individuals and as a global community, can thrive when we embrace diversity, celebrate our differences, and uplift one another. Together, we create a world where every voice is heard, every story matters, and every person belongs. First, to the Booker Prize committee – thank you for recognising stories that dare to bridge worlds. To my relentless team: my visionary literary agent, Kanishka Gupta, who believed in this book before it had a heartbeat; my translator, Deepa Bhasthi, who turned my words into bridges; and my publishers – especially Penguin Random House and And Other Stories – who sent these stories sailing across languages and borders. This is your victory too. And to my family, friends, and readers: you are the soil where my stories grow. This book is my love letter to the idea that no story is 'local' – that a tale born under a banyan tree in my village can cast shadows as far as this stage tonight. To every reader who journeyed with me: you've made my Kannada language a shared home. It is a language that sings of resilience and nuance. To write in Kannada is to inherit a legacy of cosmic wonder and earthly wisdom. This book was born from the belief that no story is ever 'small' – that in the tapestry of human experience, every thread holds the weight of the whole. In a world that often tries to divide us, literature remains one of the last sacred spaces where we can live inside each other's minds, if only for a few pages. To every reader who trusted me with their time: thank you for letting my words wander into your heart. Tonight isn't an endpoint – it's a torch passed. May it light the way for more stories from unheard corners, more translations that defy borders, and more voices that remind us: the universe fits inside every 'I'. Thank you, from the depths of my soul. Deepa Bhasthi Ellarigu Namaskara. Hello everyone. The story of the world, if you think about it, is really a history of erasures. It is characterised by the effacement of women's triumphs and the furtive rubbing away from collective memory of how women and those on the many margins of this world live and love. This Prize is a small win in a long, ongoing battle against such violences. Elsewhere, there is erasure, in the media, in people's understanding of works of literature, of translators and the work we do to bring what would otherwise be unread, uncelebrated texts to new and very different sets of readers. Which is why it is so heartening that the International Booker celebrates and places both writers and writer-translators on the same page, so to speak. Thank you first and foremost to the International Booker judges for loving these stories and my translation of them. And what a win this is for my beautiful language: Jenina holeyo, halina maleyo, sudheyo Kannada savi nudiyo, goes a song, calling the Kannada language a river of honey, a rain of milk, and compares it to sweet ambrosia. Kannada is one of the oldest languages on earth and I am ecstatic that this will hopefully lead to a greater interest in reading and writing and translating more from and into the language, and by extension, from and into the other magical languages we have in South Asia. Thank you to my incredible editor Tara Tobler, for sprinkling gold dust over my work. Thank you to the dream team at And Other Stories, to Stefan, Michael, and others. As also to the wonderful people back home, at Penguin Random House India, to Moutushi [Mukhrjee], Milee [Ashwarya], et all. Thank you to my wonderful agent Kanishka Gupta for… absolutely everything. The last few months would have been unmanageable without you. To Priya Mathew, to Farah Ali, friends old and new, thank you for the grace, for the sisterhood. Thank you to my parents Sudha and Prakash, who don't always understand why I do what I do, but cheer me on nonetheless. And most importantly, my husband Nan, the greatest love of my life, I miss you so much here tonight. Thank you, thank you, thank you, for what would I ever do without you! Play
The Guardian
5 days ago
- General
- The Guardian
Young country diary: Peregrine v pigeon? There's only one winner
I was walking home from school when a group of pigeons scattered from their perch atop a nearby building. Then, out of the sky, dropping like a piece of shrapnel, was the source of the commotion. As the peregrine falcon levelled out of its stoop, it careered into one of the birds, the pair plummeting out of sight, the pigeon inevitably dead from the sheer force of the impact. The last remnant of the skirmish was a handful of small grey feathers that gently drifted to the ground where they lay, a testament to the hunting prowess of the falcon. The incident reminded me of one several months earlier. I had heard a crash from our balcony, and, looking out, I saw a juvenile peregrine falcon, which had maybe overshot while attempting to land and was now trapped there. It quickly righted itself and ruffled its wings, disgruntled and distressed. I watched as it managed to extricate itself, and wing its way back to Canary Wharf. I wondered if it was the same one, once clumsy, now grown up and a formidable hunter. In recent years, falcons have lived in many London landmarks such as the Tate Modern, Battersea Power Station and, most notably, the Houses of Parliament. It is amazing how their population had managed to recover from the 1950s when they were almost destroyed by a toxic agricultural pesticide called DDT. Now, the modern edifices of the London skyline serve as the cliffs that they call home. Olivier, 14 Read today's other YCD piece, by Oonagh, 11: 'The night I clicked with the bats' Young Country Diary is published every fourth Saturday of the month. The submission form is now closed, but keep the link handy, it will reopen on Monday 2 June for summer articles
Time of India
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Who is Banu Mushtaq, and why this Indian lawyer needs to be celebrated for her International Booker
LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 20: Chair of Judges Max Porter (L) with Banu Mushtaq, author of "Heart Lamp", (C) and Deepa Bhasthi, translator, winners of The International Booker Prize 2025 onstage at the Tate Modern on May 20, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by) For the very first time, a woman who wrote in Kannada has risen to the ranks of the International Booker Prize, making her book the first Kannada to English translation to win one of the most coveted literary awards. The woman we are talking about is Banu Mushtaq, who won the International Booker Prize recently for her short story collection 'Heart Lamp', and this win also belongs to Deepa Bhasthi, the translator, who brought the piece to a wider audience by translating it into English. Mushtaq was not a household name in India, and her fame was limited to the select few who followed her works as a lawyer and activist. But her recent accolade has nothing to do with courtrooms or legal proceedings, but rather literature. Banu Mushtaq's early life Banu Mushtaq is a woman who dons many hats. She is a lawyer, writer, activist, poet, and more, and hails from Karnataka, India. It is said that Mushtaq started to learn and write in Kannada at 8 years of age, before which she was not proficient in the language, but went on to become one of the most celebrated Kannada writers. Her love and resolve for social justice, language, and literature will now be praised forever. Mushtaq has been famous in regional literary circles, writing on themes like gender, identity, injustice, and the inner emotional landscape of ordinary people, especially women, and her style is often described as simple, raw, and deeply heartfelt. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trade Bitcoin & Ethereum – No Wallet Needed! IC Markets Start Now Undo The win The International Booker Prize is awarded each year to a book that has been translated into English and published in the UK or Ireland. It focuses on the art of translation and how well the English version complements the regional language one, making sure that its essence is not lost in translation. How was the book described? According to the Booker Prize website, Max Porter, the Chair of Judges, remarked about the book, ''Heart Lamp is something genuinely new for English readers. A radical translation which 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. 'This was the book the judges really 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 winner of the International Booker Prize 2025 with readers around the world.'' Banu Mushtaq on her book When the Booker Prize team talked to Banu Mushtaq about her work, her influences, her love for literature, and how her work is shaped, about her book she said 'My stories are about women – how religion, society, and politics demand unquestioning obedience from them, and in doing so, inflict inhumane cruelty upon them, turning them into mere subordinates. The daily incidents reported in media and the personal experiences I have endured have been my inspiration. The pain, suffering, and helpless lives of these women create a deep emotional response within me, compelling me to write. Stories for the Heart Lamp collection were chosen from around 50 stories in six story collections I wrote between 1990 and later. Usually, there will be a single draft, and the second one will be a final copy. I do not engage in extensive research; my heart itself is my field of study. The more intensely the incidence affects me, the more deeply and emotionally I write.' And when we ask people about one book that completely changed them and influenced their way of thought, everyone names a book they hold close to their mind and heart. But Mushtaq said 'No single book has dictated my life and writing. Instead, numerous books and experiences have given me a renewed sense of life.' Why her work needs to be celebrated? Everyone knows that Mushtaq will be in the limelight for the next few years, and her work, especially 'Heart Lamp' will be hailed as revolutionary. But, it should not be just that one book. Mushtaq has many other short stories, poems, and books that have been translated into English and other languages and are available for people to read. Mushtaq has, with her Kannada writing, brought regional languages to the forefront. In an English-dominated publishing world, her success as a Kannada writer will always remind people that literature in any language can move people. Plus, Mushtaq writes stories and poems that she experiences first hand. Be it through the women who come to her for help, or the families she sees around struggling, she writes based on how much and how deeply she feels about a particular agenda. As a Muslim woman, she has been breaking assumptions and challenging stereotypes all her life, and with this win, she will not just continue but inspire and motivate many others to walk on this path to wisdom, knowledge, and literary love. Banu Mushtaq Creates History | First Kannada Author to Win International Booker Prize | Heart Lamp One step to a healthier you—join Times Health+ Yoga and feel the change
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Uniqlo and Cate Blanchett to Support Displaced Directors Through Film Fund
CANNES, France — Uniqlo is stepping in to support films made by refugees from around the world. The Japanese brand is donating 100,000 euros to support the newly launched Displacement Film Fund. The initial round will support five filmmakers from across the globe, with their films set to debut at the International Film Festival Rotterdam in 2026. More from WWD Uniqlo Parties On at Tate Modern Best Dressed Guests at the 2025 Chelsea Flower Show Roger Federer and Clare Waight Keller Discuss First Uniqlo Collection Each filmmaker will receive up to 100,000 euros from the fund to produce a film under one hour that explores the experience of being displaced. 'The growing human displacement is one of the great challenges facing us as a species, but yet somehow, like climate change, it's off the mainstream conversation, and I always find that quite bewildering,' said Cate Blanchett during a press conference and panel discussion opened by Cannes Film Festival artistic director Thierry Frémaux. Blanchett, who has served as an ambassador for the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees since 2016, said the program aims to support filmmakers who can reach audiences 'perhaps outside of their comfort zone and break down the stigmatization of those stories.' Displaced people are defined as those forced to flee their homes due to conflict, persecution, violence, or human rights violations. The idea for the project originated 18 months ago, and the team acted quickly to bring partners on board. 'There was a broad coalition of the willing coming at it from many different angles — private philanthropy, the corporate sector, and, of course, artists attached to cultural institutions and festivals,' said Blanchett. The fund uses the term 'displaced artists' rather than 'refugee,' as the latter word 'becomes almost a ghettoizing, stigmatizing and stereotypical label that prevents the word 'artist' coming front and center,' she added. A selection committee including actress Cynthia Erivo and director Agnieszka Holland oversaw a two-step selection process. The first round of participants includes Ukrainian filmmaker Maryna Er Gorbach, Somali filmmaker Mo Harawe, Syrian filmmaker Hasan Kattan, Iranian filmmaker Mohammad Rasoulof and Afghan filmmaker Shahrbanoo Sadat. Koji Yanai, group senior executive officer at Uniqlo parent company Fast Retailing, said he met Blanchett at the UNHCR-organized Global Refugee Forum in 2023. 'We connected over the desire to give a platform to displaced people and raise awareness about their stories through movies,' he told WWD. The initiative is being launched as a pilot program, though 'we expect the project [to] continue,' said Yanai. Blanchett added that they had considered a larger program with up to 20 films, but the team recognized the need to act quickly and selected a smaller cohort of directors with plans to expand. 'As we gain more backers, the program will expand and may take on new formats,' said Yanai. Blanchett described the Cannes launch as 'a call to arms' for the industry. 'We need those streaming platforms. We need those distributors and exhibitors to say, 'We're going to put these in front of [an audience],' she said. 'Those conversations are very much on our mind.' Yanai hinted that Uniqlo will put its worldwide retail reach behind those efforts. 'We would like to consider utilizing Uniqlo's global network to connect these stories to engage with global audiences in future,' he added. Best of WWD Model and Hip Hop Fashion Pioneer Kimora Lee Simmons' Runway Career Through the Years [PHOTOS] Salma Hayek's Fashion Evolution Through the Years: A Red Carpet Journey [PHOTOS] How Christian Dior Revolutionized Fashion With His New Look: A History and Timeline
Daily Tribune
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Tribune
Indian author wins International Booker for story collection
Indian writer, lawyer and activist Banu Mushtaq on Tuesday won the International Booker Prize for her short story collection 'Heart Lamp'. The 77-year-old is the first author of Kannada-language literature to receive the prestigious literary award for translated fiction. 'This moment feels like a thousand fire flies lighting a single sky -- brief, brilliant and utterly collective,' Mushtaq said at a ceremony at the Tate Modern gallery in London. 'I accept this great honour not as an individuals but as a voice raised in chorus with so many others.' Mushtaq will share the £50,000 ($67,000) prize with her translator Deepa Bhasthi, who also helped choose the stories. 'Heart Lamp' gathers 12 stories originally published between 1990 and 2023. They portray everyday life in Muslim communities of southern India, focusing on the experiences of women and girls. Critics praised the collection for its dry and gentle humour, its witty, colloquial style and its searing commentary on patriarchy, casteism and religious conservatism. Mushtaq, based in Karnataka state, southwest India, is known for her advocacy in women's rights and her legal work confronting discrimination. The jury hailed her characters -– from spirited grandmothers to bumbling religious clerics –- as 'astonishing portraits of survival and resilience'. 'My stories are about women -– how religion, society, and politics demand unquestioning obedience from them, and in doing so, inflict inhumane cruelty upon them, turning them into mere subordinates,' she Porter, chair of th judges, hailed 'Heart Lamp' as 'something genuinely new for English readers.' 'A radical translation which ruffles language, to create new textures in a plurality of Englishes. It challenges and expands our understanding of translation.'
