Women's grief is the strength of my writing

"If you create this world again, if you change the appearance of men and women, do not act like an inexperienced potter. Descend to the earth as a woman, Lord! Be a woman once, O Lord!"

These words, written in deep empathy for the sorrows of women, come from this year’s Booker Prize-winning author, Banu Mushtaq. Born in 1948 in a small town in Karnataka, India, Banu Mushtaq is a writer, lawyer, and human rights activist. Now 77 years old, she writes in the Kannada language. Her short story collection, "Heart Lamp", has won her the 2025 Booker Prize. The collection includes twelve stories published between 1990 and 2023. These stories vividly portray the everyday lives of South India’s Muslim community, with a particular focus on the poignant experiences and emotions of women and adolescent girls.

Banu Mushtaq's short story collection has been translated from Kannada to English by Deepa Vasti. 'Heart Lamp' has 12 stories, which were published between 1990 and 2023. The stories, especially the touching experiences of women and adolescents, have dominated the stories. After receiving the award, her short interview given to The Booker Prize.com is being published here for the readers of Views Bangladesh.

The inspirations behind Heart Lamp, and how I wrote it
My stories are about women – how religion, society, and politics demand unquestioning obedience from them, and in doing so, inflict inhumane cruelty upon them, turning them into mere subordinates. The daily incidents reported in media and the personal experiences I have endured have been my inspiration. The pain, suffering, and helpless lives of these women create a deep emotional response within me, compelling me to write.

Stories for the Heart Lamp collection were chosen from around 50 stories in six story collections I wrote between 1990 and later. Usually, there will be a single draft, and the second one will be a final copy. I do not engage in extensive research; my heart itself is my field of study. The more intensely the incidence affects me, the more deeply and emotionally I write.

The book that made me fall in love with reading
Rather than naming a single book, I have been influenced by an immense number of books. Ever since I learned to write the alphabet as a child, I have been writing.

The book that made me want to become a writer
The 1970s was a decade of movements in Karnataka – the Dalit movement, farmers’ movement, language movement, rebellion movement, women’s struggles, environmental activism, and theatre activities, among others, had a profound impact on me. My direct engagement with the lives of marginalised communities, women, and the neglected, along with their expressions, gave me the strength to write. Overall, the social conditions of Karnataka shaped me.

The book that changed the way I think about the world
No single book has dictated my life and writing. Instead, numerous books and experiences have given me a renewed sense of life.