Heart Lamp: Selected Stories facts for kids
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| Author | Banu Mushtaq |
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| Translator | Deepa Bhasthi |
| Country | India |
| Language | Kannada |
| Genre | Short stories |
| Published | 10 September 2024 (UK) 18 February 2025 (India) 8 April 2025 (US) |
| Publisher |
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| Media type | |
| Pages | 192 |
| ISBN | 9781916751163 |
Heart Lamp: Selected Stories is a book of short stories. It was written by Banu Mushtaq, an Indian writer. The stories were first written in the Kannada language. They were then translated into English by Deepa Bhasthi.
The book was published in the UK on September 10, 2024. It has 12 stories. These stories look at the lives of Muslim women in southern India. They talk about family rules, fairness between boys and girls, and being strong. In 2025, the book won the International Booker Prize. It was the first time a Kannada book won this award. It was also the first time a collection of short stories won it.
Contents
What the Book is About
Heart Lamp: Selected Stories has 12 short stories. Banu Mushtaq wrote them over 30 years. Deepa Bhasthi translated them into English. The stories show what life is like for Muslim women in southern India. They discuss topics like gender fairness, faith, and what society expects. The stories often use gentle humor and deep feelings.
Key Stories and Their Meanings
Some important stories are "Stone Slabs for Shaista Mahal" and "A Decision of the Heart." These stories explore roles for boys and girls. They also look at what society expects from people.
The story called "Heart Lamp" is special. It is based on a moment in Banu Mushtaq's own life. In the story, a main character feels very sad and overwhelmed. But her children help her. They show her that she is loved and understood. This helps her find hope again.
Literary Connections
This collection is part of the Bandaya Sahitya movement. This is a Kannada writing style. It questions unfairness in society. It looks at issues like social classes and religious differences. The English translation keeps some Kannada, Urdu, and Arabic words. This helps keep the stories' true cultural feeling.
Stories in the Collection
Here are the stories in the book:
- "Stone Slabs for Shaista Mahal"
- "Fire Rain"
- "Black Cobras"
- "A Decision of the Heart"
- "Red Lungi"
- "Heart Lamp"
- "High-Heeled Shoe"
- "Soft Whispers"
- "A Taste of Heaven"
- "The Shroud"
- "The Arabic Teacher and Gobi Manchuri"
- "Be a Woman Once, Oh Lord"
How the Book Was Made
Deepa Bhasthi, the translator, chose the stories for Heart Lamp: Selected Stories. She picked them from six of Banu Mushtaq's Kannada short story books. These books were written between 1990 and 2023. Bhasthi translated them so more people around the world could read Mushtaq's work.
Mushtaq's earlier translated book, Haseena and Other Stories, also won an award. It received the English PEN Translates Award in 2024. Heart Lamp was published by And Other Stories in the UK. It came out on September 10, 2024.
Awards and Recognition
- International Booker Prize (2025) – This award gives £50,000. The author and translator share the money.
