Heart Lamp by Banu Mushtaq won the 2025 Booker prize.

Heart Lamp by Banu Mushtaq is a powerful collection of 12 short stories that illuminate the everyday lives of Muslim women in southern India. The book, originally written in Kannada and translated into English by Deepa Bhasthi, won the International Booker Prize 2025, marking a historic moment for Kannada literature.

Main Themes & Thrust

- Women's Struggles & Resilience: Mushtaq explores how religion, society, and politics impose restrictions on women, often subjecting them to cruelty and subordination. Her stories highlight their endurance, survival, and quiet resistance.

- Faith & Oppression: The narratives examine the dual nature of faith—how it can provide comfort but also be weaponized to control and oppress.

- Social & Political Commentary: The book critiques patriarchal structures, caste hierarchies, and gender inequality, offering a candid portrayal of marginalized communities.

- Raw & Colloquial Storytelling: Mushtaq’s writing is known for its witty, vivid, and emotionally rich style, blending Kannada, Urdu, and other dialects to create an authentic voice.

The stories span over three decades (1990–2023) and reflect Mushtaq’s personal experiences, including her struggles with postpartum depression and societal expectations. Her fearless approach to storytelling has earned her both acclaim and controversy, making Heart Lamp a landmark work in contemporary literature.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/toi-edit-page/thoo-by-the-underdogs/