Indian writer, lawyer, and activist Banu Mushtaq has won the prestigious International Booker Prize for her short story collection Heart Lamp. The 77-year-old is the first author writing in Kannada, a South Indian language, to receive this global honour for translated fiction.

The award ceremony took place on Tuesday at London’s Tate Modern gallery. Accepting the prize, Mushtaq said, “This moment feels like a thousand fireflies lighting up the sky, brief, brilliant, and shared.” She added that the award was not just for her, but for many voices like hers.

Mushtaq will share the £50,000 (around $67,000) prize with Deepa Bhasthi, the translator of Heart Lamp, who also helped select the 12 stories featured in the book. These stories, published between 1990 and 2023, highlight everyday life in Muslim communities of southern India, especially from the point of view of women and girls.

Critics praised the book for its sharp humour, local storytelling style, and strong messages about gender, caste, and religion. Mushtaq, who lives in Karnataka, is also known for her work in women’s rights and law, especially in fighting discrimination.

The award jury called her characters — from bold grandmothers to confused religious leaders — powerful examples of survival and strength.

Mushtaq said, “My stories show how religion, society, and politics force women to obey without question, and how that often leads to cruelty and suffering.”

Max Porter, head of the judging panel, called Heart Lamp “a fresh experience for English readers,” praising it as a powerful and creative translation that brings new voices and styles into the world of literature.