Year after Booker, ‘Heart Lamp’ continues global translation journey

Mysuru: Exactly a year ago, on May 20, 2025, Hassan-based journalist-turned-advocate, activist and writer Banu Mushtaq made India proud by winning the coveted International Booker Prize for her work ‘Heart Lamp’.

The recognition not only brought global attention to Kannada literature, but also transformed Banu Mushtaq into one of the most celebrated literary voices in the country in recent times.

A year later, the writer remains deeply immersed in literature and public engagements.

In an interaction with TOI, she reflected on how the Booker Prize altered both, her literary direction and public life. According to her, immediately after she was named for the Booker Award, readers, publishers and well-wishers began insisting that she write another novel. With her collection of 12 short stories entering English translation once again, anticipation surrounding her next work is steadily rising.

Against this backdrop, Banu revealed that her second novel is already in the works. Her first, ‘Kubra’, appeared as a serial in weekly Kannada magazine Lankesh Patrike during her years as a journalist. Her second novel is expected to be completed by August end.

In the past one year, Banu has travelled to nearly 20 countries. While several programmes were directly linked to the Booker Prize, she also participated in around 10 literary festivals in India.

‘Heart Lamp’ has been translated into more than 50 languages across India and the world, including Arabic, French and Dutch, with the Indonesian edition being the latest to join that list on May 16.

Through this, Kannada storytelling has reached readers across the globe, she said.

Commenting on the reaction from Kannada literary circles, Banu described it as “mixed”. According to her, her Booker win came as a shock for many. Some wondered how Banu Mushtaq, a writer from a relatively smaller region, could receive such an honour. Yet, she believes this is precisely how literature functions — deeply local experiences often find universal resonance.

While she received enormous affection from many readers, she also noted that some remained silent. A few, she said, targeted her because she is a woman and a Muslim, but retracted when such criticism failed.

Recalling the days immediately after the Booker ceremony, she said she barely had two hours of rest before being taken to media houses. Since then, interviews, online meetings and media interactions have continued without pause.

“There has been a continuous engagement with every form of media. Even before I could think of my next sentence, questions would confront me,” she said.

The Booker Prize brought her immense affection from readers from across the world, with many celebrating her achievement as if it were their own. Publishers from different countries also began approaching her to translate ‘Heart Lamp’ into multiple languages, she said.

Apart from working on her second novel, Banu revealed that nearly half of her autobiography is done. Once the novel is finished, she plans to resume work on the memoir.