Bengaluru, Feb 26 – Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has hailed the selection of Banu Mushtaq’s Kannada short story collection Heart Lamp for the International Booker Prize 2025 longlist as a momentous achievement for the state’s language and culture.
Announced in London on Tuesday, Heart Lamp, translated from Kannada to English by Deepa Bhasthi, is among 13 titles worldwide to be considered for the prestigious literary award. Siddaramaiah took to the social media platform ‘X’ to express his pride, calling it a “true honor” for Kannada literature and extending his heartfelt congratulations to Mushtaq.
“This recognition will pave the way for global appreciation of Kannada storytelling,” the Chief Minister stated, underscoring the significance of the nomination.
Mushtaq’s work captivated the judges with its “witty, vivid, colloquial, moving, and excoriating” portrayal of family and community dynamics. This marks the first time a Kannada work has been longlisted for the £50,000 prize, which is equally shared between the author and translator.
The nomination of Heart Lamp places Kannada literature on the global literary map, celebrating the richness of regional storytelling on an international stage.
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