Winner of the 2025 International Booker Prize, Heart Lamp by Banu Mushtaq compiles 12 stories – largely of women confronting patriarchy, class, caste and religion in South India – and was originally written and published in the Kannada language.

Carefully translated into English by accomplished writer Deepa Bhasthi, its win marked the first time an Indian translator has won the prestigious prize and brought the collection to worldwide attention.

Chair of the judges Max Porter described Bhasthi’s translation as “ruffl[ing] language to create new textures in a plurality of Englishes” and that “it challenges and expands our understanding of translation”.

Spoor Books co-founder Balamohan Shingade meets her for a powerful discussion of the politics of language, and her unique approach to translation.