Don’t Miss the 2025 Booker Prize Live: Watch India’s Banu Mushtaq Compete with Heart Lamp in the International Category!

Hyderabad is buzzing with excitement as Indian literature shines on the global stage. Banu Mushtaq has made history by being a finalist for the 2025 International Booker Prize for her collection of short stories, Heart Lamp. This is a landmark achievement, as it’s the first time Kannada literature has been nominated.

When and Where to Watch the Ceremony

Mark your calendars! The International Booker Prize ceremony will occur on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, at the Tate Modern Museum in London. It’s a fantastic venue known for its rich cultural significance.

For those eager to catch the live announcement, the event will be streamed online for book lovers everywhere. Here’s what you need to know:

• Time: 2:30 AM IST on May 21, 2025.
• Where to Watch: You can stream it on the official website, Instagram (@thebookerprizes), YouTube (Booker Prizes channel), and Twitter (X: @TheBookerPrizes).

About Banu Mushtaq and Heart Lamp

Banu Mushtaq is an established Kannada writer whose work focuses on the vibrant yet challenging lives of Muslim women in Southern India. Her book, Heart Lamp, is a compilation of tales drawn from 30 years of her writing, reflecting on identity, community, and resilience.

The stories are translated into English by Deepa Bhasthi, allowing broader audiences to explore themes of strength and emotional depth. Bhasthi describes the book as shedding light on the "inner lamps of women’s lives"—a poignant reflection of their struggles and triumphs.

Mushtaq’s nomination is a significant achievement for Kannada literature, showcasing the rich tapestry of Indian storytelling beyond English. If she wins, she would only be the second Indian author to secure this honor, following Geetanjali Shree in 2022.

The Importance of the International Booker Prize

The International Booker Prize is awarded annually for the best book translated into English and published in the UK or Ireland. Unlike the main Booker Prize, the £50,000 prize is shared equally between the author and translator, recognizing the vital role translators play in connecting cultures.

India’s Track Record at the Booker Prizes

India has a notable history at the Booker Prizes. Here are a few remarkable winners:

• V.S. Naipaul won in 1971 for In a Free State, offering insights into post-colonial life.
• Salman Rushdie‘s Midnight’s Children won in 1981, celebrated for its magical realism.
• Arundhati Roy was the first Indian woman to win with The God of Small Things in 1997.
• Kiran Desai won in 2006 for The Inheritance of Loss, examining migration and identity.
• Aravind Adiga claimed victory in 2008 with The White Tiger, critiquing class divides in India.

Recently, Geetanjali Shree’s Tomb of Sand made headlines as the first International Booker Prize winner from India, marking a significant moment for regional literature.

What to Expect at the Ceremony

The ceremony promises a blend of literary celebration and cultural flair. Audiences can look forward to live readings, insights from translators, author interviews, and, of course, the thrilling announcement of the winner. Don’t forget to follow the Booker Prizes’ social media for exclusive backstage action!

As the world awaits this remarkable moment for Banu Mushtaq and Kannada literature, it highlights the ongoing evolution and recognition of diverse voices in literature.

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