Heart Lamp: Selected Stories by Banu Mushtaq – A Feminist Masterpiece from Southern India
Heart Lamp: Selected Stories by Banu Mushtaq, translated by Deepa Bhasthi, is a groundbreaking collection of twelve short stories that delve into the lives of Muslim women in Karnataka, Southern India. Originally written in Kannada between 1990 and 2023, this anthology has garnered international acclaim, including the 2025 International Booker Prize and a PEN Translates Award 27. Mushtaq, a lawyer and activist, exposes systemic oppression—patriarchy, caste, and religious hypocrisy—through raw, darkly humorous narratives that blend personal suffering with collective resilience.