Aligarh: In a historic literary triumph, Miss Banu Mushtaq, a renowned Kannada writer, has been awarded the prestigious International Booker Prize 2025 for her critically acclaimed collection of short stories, Heart Lamp. This landmark recognition marks the first time in the prize’s history that a collection of short fiction has received this honour.
Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) Vice Chancellor, Prof. Naima Khatoon congratulated Miss Mushtaq, acknowledging her remarkable achievement and its significance for Indian literature.
“On behalf of the Aligarh Muslim University community, I extend my warmest congratulations to Banu Mushtaq on winning the International Booker Prize 2025. This historic achievement is not only a moment of personal triumph but also a celebration of Indian literature and the expressive power of short fiction. Her compelling storytelling in Heart Lamp embodies richness of Indian languages and the universality of human experience. Her work, steeped in empathy and insight, brings global recognition to regional voices. We are immensely proud and inspired by her success,” Prof. Khatoon said.
AMU Pro Vice Chancellor, Prof. Mohammad Mohsin Khan said, “Miss Banu Mushtaq’s recognition on the global literary stage is a moment of great pride. We at AMU celebrate her achievement and hope it encourages young writers across the country to pursue literary excellence with courage and conviction.”
AMU joins the wider academic and literary community in celebrating this remarkable moment. Banu Mushtaq’s Heart Lamp not only shines a light on hidden narratives but also paves the way for short fiction to be honoured on the world’s biggest literary platforms.
Heart Lamp has been lauded by the Booker judges for its emotional precision, poetic language, and its evocative portrayal of lives often lived on the margins. The stories explore identity, resilience, and memory, cementing Miss Mushtaq’s place among the most influential contemporary voices in world literature.
Notably, the International Booker Prize, awarded annually to works of fiction translated into English, recognises both the author and the translator.
