This conversation on Heart Lamp: Selected Stories, awarded the Booker Prize 2025, will delve into Banu Mushtaq’s fearless storytelling and her portrayal of women navigating faith, family, and societal expectations in southern India. The speakers will explore how Mushtaq’s journalistic and legal background shaped her writing, giving voice to the struggles and resilience of Muslim women. Translator Deepa Bhasthi, whose masterful rendering brings these stories to an English-speaking audience, will share insights into the nuances of language, the challenges of retaining Mushtaq’s distinctive voice, and the role of translation in preserving and amplifying regional literature. Through anecdotes from the book and reflections on contemporary gender and caste dynamics, the discussion will highlight the power of fiction to challenge norms, preserve oral histories, and inspire change.

In this episode of BIC Talks, Banu Mushtaq and Deepa Bhashti will be in conversation with Shinie Antony. This is an excerpt from a conversation that took place in the BIC premises in April 2025.

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