Heart Lamp by Deepa Bhasthi

Heart Lamp: Selected Stories is a groundbreaking collection by acclaimed Kannada writer Banu Mushtaq, translated into English by Deepa Bhasthi. This International Booker Prize-winning title brings together twelve poignant stories written between 1990 and 2023, capturing the everyday lives, inner worlds, and quiet rebellions of women navigating gender, caste, and religious identity in southern India.

Through emotionally resonant characters — from strong-willed grandmothers to quietly suffering mothers — Mushtaq blends dry wit and deep empathy to create stories that are as tender as they are politically sharp. Deepa Bhasthi’s translation maintains the cultural richness of the original language, preserving Kannada, Urdu, and Arabic terms that make these stories truly immersive.

Whether you're a fan of literary fiction, South Asian writing, or feminist literature, Heart Lamp is a must-read that shines light on voices too long unheard.