Interview: Int'l Booker Winner Banu Mushtaq Gives Voice To Silenced Women

Banu Mushtaq, a renowned writer from Hassan, Karnataka, has won the International Booker Prize for her book Heart Lamp, translated by Deepa Bhasthi. She is the only Kannada-language author to win the coveted literature prize. Receiving the prize at London's Tate Modern gallery, she quoted one of her own works: “This moment feels like a thousand fireflies lighting a single sky -- brief, brilliant and utterly collective. I accept this great honour not as an individual but as a voice raised in chorus with so many others."

Spanning two decades of writing, Heart Lamp is a collection of 12 short fiction stories that trace the lives of people from Muslim communities of southern India. The International Booker Prize committee described, "Written in a style at once witty, vivid, colloquial, moving and excoriating, it’s in her characters that Mushtaq emerges as an astonishing writer and observer of human nature." Mushtaq also won the Karnataka Sahitya Academy Award in 1999 and the

Banu Mushtaq, a renowned writer from Hassan, Karnataka, has won the International Booker Prize for her book Heart Lamp, translated by Deepa Bhasthi. She is the only Kannada-language author to win the coveted literature prize. Receiving the prize at London's Tate Modern gallery, she quoted one of her own works: “This moment feels like a thousand fireflies lighting a single sky -- brief, brilliant and utterly collective. I accept this great honour not as an individual but as a voice raised in chorus with so many others."

Spanning two decades of writing, Heart Lamp is a collection of 12 short fiction stories that trace the lives of people from Muslim communities of southern India. The International Booker Prize committee described, "Written in a style at once witty, vivid, colloquial, moving and excoriating, it’s in her characters that Mushtaq emerges as an astonishing writer and observer of human nature." Mushtaq also won the Karnataka Sahitya Academy Award in 1999 and the Daana Chintamani Attimabbe Award.

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Banu Mushtaq in conversation with SheThePeople

Earlier in May, Banu Mushtaq was at a mall in Bengaluru to speak at a 'reader's fest' about her journey and work. When I first saw her, she was standing quietly in the middle of the Sunday-evening chaos, appearing more as a silent observer than a literary legend. Perhaps she was taking mental notes for her next story's characters? Or maybe she was soaking in the moment, as her family in the audience celebrated her success with an infectious pride.

Later, beneath the ruby sunset in the mall's courtyard, she sat down with me for an interview about the long journey that led to the creation of Heart Lamp. Mushtaq shared that she developed a passion for writing at a young age. However, it wasn't until she was about 25 years old that she made it her profession, quitting medical studies to chase her creative dream. Her first book was Hejje Moodida Haadi, a collection of seven short stories in Kannada, published in 1990.

Almost all the stories and characters in Banu Mushtaq's works have been inspired by fragments of her real life. "A writer, somehow or other, has autobiographical elements even in their fictional work. Not directly, but there might be an incident or event that grows into the imagination and brings out the required effect," she described.

"In all my stories, the protagonist is a woman—A woman denied independence; a woman who has to be obedient to the system dominated by men. Due to these systematic subjugations by patriarchy, she feels like there is no hope. But through my writing, I hope to give her a voice," Mushtaq expressed.

Mushtaq detailed what goes behind creating complex characters. "I am a firm believer in the idea that nobody is 100% good or bad. There is a blend of both. Similarly, I believe that every adult character has a blend of feminine and masculine qualities, along with a hidden child-like personality. That's how I add colours to my characters."

On regional Indian literature

A fearless author and advocate, Banu Mushtaq has been a vocal champion for people from marginalised societies. She was also part of the Bandaya Sahitya Sanghatane, the progressive (rebel) literary movement of Karnataka, which has immensely shaped modern literature and the fight for social justice and equality.

Mushtaq explained, "During the 80s, there were a lot of social movements in Karnataka, including the Raitha Sanghatane (farmer's movement), Dalit Sanghatane, or Bandaya Sahitya (rebellious literature), which together formed a unique mindset among Karnataka youth. The Kannada literary movement then branched out into three prominent parts: Dalit literature, Feminist literature, and Muslim Sensibility literature. To this day, these three branches are talking, writing, respiring, and giving strength to the marginalised communities."

With Heart Lamp, Banu Mushtaq is making history as the first-ever Kannada writer shortlisted for the International Booker Prize. She spoke about the challenges facing vernacular literature today and how the voices and unique cultural nuances of underrepresented communities can be amplified in India. 

"Most regional languages in India are islands in themselves. Beyond geography, there are boundaries stretched out even in languages. A lot of work should be done towards translations. If translations are done and the literature is shared with the people of other regions and languages, it can strengthen solidarity," Mushtaq said.

Deepa Bhasthi's translation of Heart Lamp bridges linguistic barriers whilst preserving the intricate socio-cultural textures of Mushtaq's stories. Her observational sensitivity and stylistic prowess have taken the book global, elevating Indian vernacular literature to unprecedented international recognition.