New Delhi, May 23 -- This year's winner of the International Booker Prize, Banu Mushtaq's Heart Lamp, is the first ever short-story collection to have received this award. It is also the first Kannada title to do so. Translated into English by Deepa Bhasthi, this work of fiction tells stories of everyday Muslim women in South India.

Also Read: Book review: 'Heart Lamp' asks in whom women can really put their faith

The judges praised its characters as "astonishing portraits of survival and resilience." Her refusal to flatten her characters or force-fit them into moulds to suit an argument has also been noted.

Also Read: Let women reclaim the right to rage

The last Indian to win this honour was Geetanjali Shree, who won in 2022 for her ...