Short story collection 'Heart Lamp' is the winner of the International Booker Prize

Summary

Summary of NPR's Book of the Day Episode: "Heart Lamp" Wins the International Booker Prize

Podcast Information

• Title: NPR's Book of the Day
• Host: Andrew Limbaugh
• Episode Title: Short story collection 'Heart Lamp' is the winner of the International Booker Prize
• Release Date: July 30, 2025

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Introduction

In this episode of NPR's Book of the Day, host Andrew Limbaugh delves into the triumphant achievement of the short story collection Heart Lamp by Banu Mushtaq, translated by Deepa Bashti. The collection has recently won the prestigious International Booker Prize, marking several significant firsts in the literary world.

“I’m in my feelings about this right now because of today's interview,” Limbaugh shares at [00:02], setting a personal and reflective tone for the discussion ahead.

Interview with Banu Mushtaq and Deepa Bashti

The core of the episode features an insightful conversation between host Asma Khalid and the duo behind Heart Lamp: author Banu Mushtaq and her translator Deepa Bashti.

Achievements and Firsts

Asma Khalid highlights the groundbreaking nature of the award:

“It was the first time the prize was awarded to a story collection... the first time it was awarded to an author writing in Kannada... and the first time a translator from India won the award.” ([01:18])

These milestones not only honor Mushtaq and Bashti but also shine a spotlight on Kannada literature, a language with a rich 1500-year tradition that is often underrepresented on the global stage.

Themes and Diversity in Story Selection

Deepa Bashti discusses the meticulous process of selecting stories for the collection:

“I was kind of mindful about presenting a diversity of these themes and not repeating, you know, the same aggrieved wife three or four times.” ([03:28])

This approach ensured that Heart Lamp offers a varied and powerful exploration of women's lives, avoiding thematic redundancy and showcasing Banu Mushtaq's versatility as a writer.

Resilience and Strength of Women

Deepa elaborates on the central themes of resilience and sisterhood amidst oppression:

“At the core of these stories is how women resist, how women try and live their best lives with humor, with resilience, with this strength of sisterhood when they are severely oppressed by patriarchal and fundamentalist religious systems.” ([04:23])

These narratives extend beyond the Muslim community of Karnataka, highlighting universal struggles and the inner strength of women facing societal constraints.

Personal Inspirations and Experiences

Banu Mushtaq shares the blend of personal experiences and observed realities that inform her stories:

“All the stories and the experiences I have witnessed and my own experiences, they blend into a very harmonious matrix.” ([05:04])

Her ability to transform real-life struggles into compelling fiction adds depth and authenticity to the collection.

In-Depth Discussion on "Heart Lamp"

One of the standout stories, also titled Heart Lamp, is dissected with sensitivity and depth.

Synopsis of "Heart Lamp"

The story centers on a woman facing abandonment and familial rejection, leading her to a moment of despair where she considers self-immolation.

“She pours petrol over herself and considers setting it on fire until her daughter essentially rescues her.” ([06:24])

Author's Personal Connection

Banu Mushtaq candidly opens up about her own struggles with postpartum depression and the oppressive constraints of her marriage, which inspired the narrative:

“I poured petrol over me when the baby was sleeping... he smelt the petrol immediately... he begged me not to commit anything... within fraction of second I came out of that complete negative condition.” ([06:28])

This personal revelation not only underscores the authenticity of her storytelling but also highlights the transformative power of love and understanding in overcoming despair.

Portrayal of Supportive Relationships

Contrasting with many of her characters' experiences, Banu praises her husband’s supportive nature:

“He loves me a lot and he sees me wherever I go and whatever my speeches, he follows me like an ardent fan... he doesn't want to control me. And he's just like the greatest friend of me.” ([08:54])

This depiction offers a hopeful counterpoint to the pervasive theme of patriarchy, illustrating the positive impact of mutual respect and support in relationships.

Impact and Future Aspirations

Both Banu Mushtaq and Deepa Bashti express their hopes for the future following their remarkable achievement.

Boosting Kannada Literature

Deepa Bashti emphasizes the need for more translations from Kannada to other languages to showcase its rich literary heritage:

“There is a lot of repetition in terms of the theme and the subject matter... [Heart Lamp] presented her, the way she addresses language, the way she addresses and looks into the various aspects of women in her stories.” ([03:28])

She envisions Heart Lamp opening doors for Kannada literature internationally, encouraging cross-cultural literary exchanges.

Celebration and Recognition in India

Banu Mushtaq reflects on the national celebration of her win:

“People here are celebrating even today... it has become something like a people's celebration here at my place.” ([11:20])

This widespread recognition not only honors her work but also inspires aspiring writers within the Kannada-speaking community.

Conclusion

The episode closes by reiterating the significance of Heart Lamp's victory and its contributors. Host Asma Khalid summarizes:

“Heart Lamp is this year's winner of the International Booker Prize... Thank you both.” ([11:49])

Through heartfelt narratives and a collaborative translation effort, Banu Mushtaq and Deepa Bashti have elevated Kannada literature onto the global stage, offering poignant stories that resonate across cultures and geographies.

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• “I’m in my feelings about this right now because of today's interview.” – Andrew Limbaugh [00:02]
• “It was the first time the prize was awarded to a story collection... Kannada literature which now shines on a global stage.” – Asma Khalid [01:18]
• “I was kind of mindful about presenting a diversity of these themes...” – Deepa Bashti [03:28]
• “At the core of these stories is how women resist...” – Deepa Bashti [04:23]
• “All the stories and the experiences I have witnessed and my own experiences, they blend into a very harmonious matrix.” – Banu Mushtaq [05:04]
• “He loves me a lot and he sees me wherever I go...” – Banu Mushtaq [08:54]
• “There is a lot of repetition in terms of the theme and the subject matter...” – Deepa Bashti [10:15]
• “People here are celebrating even today...” – Banu Mushtaq [11:20]

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Final Thoughts

Heart Lamp stands as a testament to the resilience and creativity of women in literature, particularly within the Kannada-speaking community. This NPR episode not only celebrates a literary triumph but also underscores the importance of diverse voices in enriching the global literary landscape.

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For listeners interested in exploring more about Heart Lamp and other compelling literary works, NPR's Book of the Day continues to spotlight noteworthy books that stimulate thought and offer profound narratives.

Transcript

[Andrew Limbaugh]

Hey, it's NPR's Book of the Day. I'm Andrew Limbaugh. You know, sometimes I forget that it is a privilege to be able to crack open a book that I can walk down to the library, find something I'm interested in and just start reading. I'm in my feelings about this right now because of today's interview. It's with Banu Mushtaq and her translator Deepa Bashti, talking about their book Heart Lamp. It's a short story collection about the lives of Muslim women in India. Some of the stories were inspired by women Banu Mushtaq knew. Others were inspired by her own life, including one story where the main character attempts suicide. And in this interview with Here and Now's Asma Khalid, Mujtaq talks about being in a marriage where she wasn't free to chase her own intellectual pursuits, which to her felt like being in a cage. That's ahead.

[Unknown]

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[Asma Khalid]

This year's winner of the prestigious International Booker Prize, which is given to a work translated into English, achieved a lot of firsts. It was the first time the prize was awarded to a story collection. The first time it was awarded to an author writing in Kannada. That's a language spoken in the southern Indian state of Karnataka. And the first time a translator from India won the award. The book is titled Heart Lamp. It tells the stories of women who live in southern India, often surviving in poverty, struggling against patriarchal systems, yet somehow still finding an inner resilience. They're not necessarily deeply sad stories. They are melancholy at times and definitely thought provoking. And a note, one of the stories deals with suicide, which we will discuss. Lawyer, activist and author Banu Mushtaq wrote the stories in Heartland. Deepa Bashti translated them. They share the prize, and they both join us here on the show. Thanks for taking the time.

[Banu Mushtaq]

Thank you.

[Deepa Bashti]

Thank you, Rasma.

[Asma Khalid]

I should begin by just saying congratulations, and I'd love to hear for both of you what the response has been like in India. Deepa, do you want to begin?

[Deepa Bashti]

Thank you. It's been incredible. Not just in the Karnataka state, which is where Kannada is predominantly spoken, but I think there's been a lot of fanfare all across the country. So it has been a very wonderful time and a very busy time as well.

[Asma Khalid]

And Banu, how have you felt winning the prize?

[Banu Mushtaq]

This honour feels both exhilarating and humbling. It's a validation not just for me, but for the countless women whose struggles and resilience inspired these stories and for Kannada literature which now shines on a global stage.

[Asma Khalid]

Deepa, I understand that you not only translated the works, but you also selected which stories would appear in this short story collection. You know, Banu's very prolific. She has been writing for over three decades. How did you narrow this down and decide which stories to include?

[Deepa Bashti]

As it usually happens with a lot of writers when they write over a long period of time, there is a lot of repetition in terms of the theme and the subject matter and all that. So I was kind of mindful about presenting a diversity of these themes and not repeating, you know, the same aggrieved wife three or four times. So I hand chose, you know, what I felt was the most powerful and what presented her, the way she addresses language, the way she addresses and looks into the various aspects of women in her stories.

[Asma Khalid]

And Deepa, as you were translating the stories, what came through to you about the inner sort of resilience or strength of these women and what stood out to you about the women that Banu was depicting?

[Deepa Bashti]

So the characters in Banu's stories have Muslim names, but these stories are not restricted to the Muslim community, a small part of Karnataka. Because at the core of these stories is how women resist, how women try and live their best lives with humor, with resilience, with this strength of sisterhood when they are severely oppressed by patriarchal and fundamentalist religious systems.

[Asma Khalid]

Banu, how much of these stories came from your own experiences or experiences you saw around you there in India?

[Banu Mushtaq]

All the stories and the experiences I have witnessed and my own experiences, they blend into a very harmonious matrix. There will be a small seed sown in my mind when I see something, when I hear something, and it grows into my mind and the outcome will be quite different. Sometimes the story has its own rhythm and it attracts me and it takes me unaware and gives a special effect to it.

[Asma Khalid]

Banu, I want to ask you about one particular story in the collection. It's titled Heart Lamp, which is the same name as the collection itself. Heart Lamp is a story about a woman whose husband abandons her, leaves her for another woman. Her parents and her family seem to reject her. Her life feels very Desperate in that moment. And so she pours petrol over herself and considers setting it on fire until her daughter essentially rescues her. And Banu, this is a very sensitive question to ask you. But you have shared publicly before that at one point you too considered setting yourself on fire.

[Banu Mushtaq]

Yes.

[Asma Khalid]

I can't imagine what were the circumstances and why.

[Banu Mushtaq]

So I had delivered my first child and she was three months old. I was suffering from postpartum depression. And the other thing, I was not allowed to have any intellectual activity of my own. I had to remain within the four walls of the house and I had to bear the burden of wife and the mother only. But earlier to my marriage, I was employed as a high school teacher. And I worked with the people, I worked with the student. And I wanted that life also. I wanted to come out of this cage and I want to do whatever I wanted. I wanted to write stories, I wanted to mingle with people which was not allowed. And I was suffering silently. And after my delivery, due to this depression and to revolt against this system, I decided I would end my life. And I poured petrol over me when the baby was sleeping. And my husband was also. But he smelt the petrol immediately. He got up and he felt so sorry for me because mine was a low marriage and he respected me and he was also miserable seeing me suffering. And he took the baby and he placed it on my feet and begged me not to commit anything. And he hugged me. And within fraction of second I came out of that complete negative condition and I realized what I was going to do. And then life went on in a different condition. And my husband sensed that he may lose me if he continues the same thing. And then he changed his life, though it was not easy for him because he was the eldest son of a somewhat a big family and he could not rebel against the values of that family. But he took me to library and he got me so many books and he took my side and he allowed me somewhat freedom.

[Asma Khalid]

Banu, it is such a heart wrenching story. You mentioned that yours was a love marriage that you actually in this collection you thank him, your husband, he seems to be very different than many of the men you wrote about in the book.

[Banu Mushtaq]

Yes, he's quite different. He's quite calm and he doesn't want to mix with the people. He want to be in his comfort zone only. But he loves me a lot and he sees me wherever I go and whatever my speeches, he follows me like an ardent fan and he feels happy about it and he doesn't want to control me. And he's just like a greatest friend of me.

[Asma Khalid]

And yet, Banu, so many of the women you write about in this collection are struggling against really challenging systems of oppression, whether it's from the fathers in their lives or the brothers in their lives. What were you trying to depict there?

[Banu Mushtaq]

Yeah, I want to say patriarchy is so cruel. It will not spare its own women. When the women start questioning and the women starts asking the people and telling them that you are doing wrong, it is the greatest revolution, it is the greatest protest she can put forth against that system and that patriarchy.

[Asma Khalid]

I have one final question for both of you here. Ndipa, why don't I begin by asking you, what do you hope the impact of winning this award will have?

[Deepa Bashti]

The ideal scenario would be that there would be a lot more translations from Kannada and into the Kannada language because compared to our neighboring languages like Tamil, Malayalam, the other South Indian languages and up north, Bengali, Urdu, etc. There's very, very little that comes out from Kannada, even though we have, I think, a little unbroken literary tradition of at least 1500 years. And by extension, of course, I hope that there is a lot more attention to the other languages in India as well and the larger South Asian region, because there are dozens and dozens of translations which are published in India, but then very few of them cross the subcontinental borders. So hopefully our stories will also be widely read and we will also be able to read many more stories from other languages in our own mother tongues. That's the hope.

[Asma Khalid]

And Banu, for you, it is a.

[Banu Mushtaq]

Great recognition for Kannada. People here are celebrating even today. It was announced during May and even today there are celebrations and people here, they want to know more and more about the Booker event, how to enter into this competition and how to get recognition. And it has become something like a people's celebration here at my place.

[Asma Khalid]

Banu Mushtaq is the author and Deepa Bashti is the translator of the short story collection Heart Lamp, which is this year's winner of the International Booker Prize. Thank you both.

[Banu Mushtaq]

Thank you.

[Deepa Bashti]

Thank you Wasma.

[Asma Khalid]

And if you or someone you know may be considering suicide or is in crisis, Please call or text 988 to reach the Suicide in Crisis lifeline.

[Unknown]

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