Heart Lamp: A 2025 International Booker Prize Shortlisted Book
A Triumph for Banu Mushtaq and Deepa Bhasthi
Banu Mushtaq, a Kannada writer, and Deepa Bhasthi, her translator, have achieved a significant milestone with their book, Heart Lamp: Selected Stories. The collection has been shortlisted for the prestigious 2025 International Booker Prize.
This is the second time a book from India has made it to the shortlist, following Geetanjali Shree’s Tomb of Sand in 2022. The translation of the Hindi novel by Daisy Rockwell had created history.
A Diverse and Competitive Shortlist
Six books are in contention for the 2025 International Booker Prize. Among them are five novels and one collection of short stories, including Heart Lamp. The book was published by Penguin Random House India in India and And Other Stories in the UK in April 2025.
Notably, all the shortlisted books have been published by independent publishers. Women dominate the list, with nine out of 12 nominees. Three authors are competing with their debut English-language publications. Only one book on the shortlist is more than 200 pages.
The 2025 International Booker Prize Jury
The jury for the 2025 International Booker Prize is chaired by author Max Porter. The other members of the jury are:
- Poet and photographer Caleb Femi
- Writer and Publishing Director of Wasafiri Sana Goyal
- Author and translator Anton Hur
- Singer-songwriter Beth Orton
The jury selected the shortlist from a longlist of 13 books.
Jury’s Comments on Heart Lamp
The jury praised Heart Lamp for its portrayal of marginalized communities and its powerful storytelling. They said, “Across three decades, Banu Mushtaq, a major voice in progressive Kannada literature, presents the lives of girls and women in Muslim communities in southern India in a dozen stories.
These stories challenge societal norms and expose the corruption, oppression, injustice, and violence prevalent in contemporary society. Despite their heavy themes, the stories remain engaging and surprising, with vivid dialogue and unforgettable characters.
The jury appreciated the emotional, moral, and socio-political weight of the stories, urging readers to delve deeper.
Prize Money and Announcement of the Winner
The winner of the 2025 International Booker Prize will receive a cash prize of £50,000, which will be equally divided between the writer and translator. Additionally, each shortlisted title will receive £5,000, with £2,500 going to the author and £2,500 to the translator.
The winner will be announced on May 20 at a ceremony at Tate Modern, London.
Complete Shortlist for the 2025 International Booker Prize
- A Leopard-Skin Hat, Anne Serre, translated from the French by Mark Hutchinson, New Directions Publishing.
- Heart Lamp: Selected Stories, Banu Mushtaq, translated from Kannada by Deeba Bhasthi, And Other Stories.
- On the Calculation of Volume, Solvej Balle, translated from the Dutch by Barbara J Haveland, Faber and Faber.
- Perfection, Vincenzo Latronico, translated from the Italian by Sophie Hughes, Fitzcarraldo Editions.
- Small Boat, Vincent Delecroix, translated from French by Helen Stevenson, Peepal Tress Press.
- Under the Eye of the Big Bird, Hiromi Kawakami, translated from Japanese by Asa Yoneda, Granta Books.
Note: The book cover image is sourced from Penguin Random House India.
