Indian author Banu Mushtaq wins the International Booker Prize for her collection "Lamp of the Heart."

Indian writer and human rights activist Banu Mushtaq has won the International Booker Prize for her short story collection "Heart Lamp," shedding light on the daily challenges faced by Muslim women in South India.

The award was announced during a ceremony held in London on the evening of Tuesday, May 20, where Mushtaq shared the £50,000 prize (over €59,000) with translator Deepa Bhashti, who translated the work from Kannada to English.

The collection consists of stories written between 1990 and 2023, offering an intimate portrayal of women facing familial and societal pressures in a conservative community.

This achievement marks a first for the Kannada language, one of the local languages in South India, as no book in this language has previously received such a prestigious award.

Banu Mushtaq expressed her joy, stating: "I accept this great honor not as an individual, but as a voice standing with many others," describing the win as an "unbelievable" moment.

Chair of the judging panel, Max Porter, praised the work, calling it "truly new for English-language readers," "beautiful, vibrant stories."

Porter also emphasized the importance of books that "challenge authority," citing works from countries like Sudan, Ukraine, China, Eritrea, Iran, and Turkey.

According to the award organizers, the book faced scrutiny from conservative factions in India and was overlooked by major literary awards in the country. This win sheds light on issues of literary freedom and expression in the current political climate.

The International Booker Prize is awarded annually to authors who present outstanding fictional works, after being held biennially until 2016. The German novel "Kruso" by author Jenny Erpenbeck, translated by Michael Hofmann, won the award in the previous edition.