Latest news with #TheBookerPrizes
Hindustan Times
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
‘Every story is a universe': International Booker Prize winner Banu Mushtaq's heartfelt speech honours her readers
It is a triumphant moment for Indian literature as Heart Lamp, a haunting and intimate collection of short stories by Banu Mushtaq, translated from Kannada by Deepa Bhasthi, won the International Booker Prize 2025. It is noteworthy that this is only the second time in five years that an Indian-language work has claimed the prestigious award, following Geetanjali Shree's Tomb of Sand, translated by Daisy Rockwell, which won in 2022. But Heart Lamp brings something entirely new: it is the first short story collection to win the prize — a resounding recognition of the form's power, and of the often-silenced stories of women from India's heartland. Originally written in Kannada, Heart Lamp was selected and translated by Deepa, who became the first Indian translator to win the International Booker. The book comprises 12 stories, chosen from over 50 written by Mushtaq over three decades. Each piece is a lens into the lives of women negotiating autonomy, tradition, pain, and resistance in deeply patriarchal communities. A post shared by The Booker Prizes (@thebookerprizes) Bhasthi's sensitive translation does more than carry Mushtaq's words into English — it carries their spirit. She described the win as a 'collective moment' for regional Indian languages and hopes it will inspire more translations from Kannada and other South Asian tongues. In her powerful acceptance speech, Mushtaq reflected on the role of literature in bridging human experience: '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.' '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,' she said. '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,' she further said. A post shared by The Booker Prizes (@thebookerprizes) Mushtaq also expressed deep gratitude to her readers, describing them as the nurturing ground where her stories found life. 'This book is my love letter to the idea that no story is local or small…' She showered praises on the Kannada language too — 'to write in Kannada is to inherit a legacy of cosmic wonder and earthly wisdom,' she said. Mushtaq's journey to literary recognition has been anything but easy. Born and raised in a Muslim neighbourhood in a small town in Karnataka, she studied the Quran in Urdu but was enrolled by her father in a Kannada-medium convent school at the age of eight — a decision that would shape her life's path. While Kannada was not her native language, it would become the one in which she chose to write. Mushtaq began writing as a teenager and pursued a college education while many of her peers were falling into early marriages. Her first story was published only after she married at 26, following a love match that soon became fraught with conflict. A post shared by The Booker Prizes (@thebookerprizes) In interviews, Mushtaq has spoken with unflinching honesty about those early years, of being confined to domestic duties, suffering postpartum depression, and the emotional isolation of marriage. One particularly harrowing account details a moment when, in despair, she nearly self-immolated, only to be stopped by her husband's last-minute intervention. 'I had always wanted to write but had nothing to write (about) because suddenly, after a love marriage, I was told to wear a burqa and dedicate myself to domestic work,' she told Vogue India. In The Week, she also added how she was forced to live a life confined within the four walls of my house. And it is out of these walls — and against them — that Heart Lamp was born. With Heart Lamp, Banu Mushtaq has achieved something rare: she has turned deeply personal stories into universal literature. Her characters now stand at the centre of one of the world's most prestigious literary stages. This win is not just a victory for Mushtaq and Bhasthi. It is a victory for short fiction, for Kannada literature, and for the countless women whose lives have long gone unwritten or untranslated. As the literary world celebrates this historic win, Heart Lamp becomes more than a book. It becomes a beacon — one that lights up the power of stories to heal, resist, and endure.
New Indian Express
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New Indian Express
Kochi-based reviewer's video to be featured in Booker Prize event
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Never in his wildest dreams did Shon Joy imagine that a book review he posted on his social media handle would catch the attention of the Booker Prize Foundation. His video review of Anne Serre's 'A Leopard-Skin Hat' — one of six books shortlisted for this year's International Booker Prize — has garnered attention for its clarity and insight. And what's more, his video will be used as part of the official content for the upcoming Booker event. 'When I posted the review on Instagram, I never expected such a response from the official handle of The Booker Prizes,' Shon told TNIE.'I tagged them because I was reviewing a book shortlisted by them. This is a huge achievement for me and I was more than happy to give my consent to use my video for their official content for the upcoming event.' He said the Booker Prize authorities have promised to credit his account. 'I too am eagerly waiting for the winner.' An engineering graduate by qualification, Shon decided to pursue his passion for reading and writing, becoming a professional copywriter and author. Belonging to Thrissur, he currently resides in Kochi and is an active participant in literary discussions, reading clubs, and is a prolific book reviewer across digital platforms. A major turning point was his interaction with iconic Malayalam writer M Mukundan. 'I got the unique opportunity to interact and spend a day with him at Mayyazhi as part of an event organised by DC Books to celebrate 50 years of 'Mayyazhi Puzhayude Theerangalil'. He inspired me to read more international books and discussed the books shortlisted for this year's International Booker Prize. I decided to read and review all six shortlisted books. A Leopard-Skin Hat was the first book I posted, which got the response from them,' Shon said.
