Karnataka CM Congratulates Banu Mushtaq for International Booker Prize Win

Celebrating a Literary Milestone

On Wednesday, Karnataka's Chief Minister Siddaramaiah extended his congratulations to Banu Mushtaq for winning the International Booker Prize for her Kannada short story collection. He emphasized that she has elevated the stature of Kannada literature on a global scale.

Mushtaq, who is also a writer, activist, and lawyer, made history as her collection titled 'Hriday Deep' (Heart Lamp) became the first Kannada short story collection to win the prestigious £50,000 award during a ceremony held in London on Tuesday night.

At the event, Mushtaq accepted the award alongside her translator, Deepa Bhasti, who translated the collection from Kannada to English.

Siddaramaiah took to the social media platform X to express his pride, stating, "Heartfelt congratulations to Kannada writer Banu Mushtaq for winning the International Booker Prize for Literature. It’s a moment of celebration for Kannada, its speakers, and Karnataka."

He noted that Mushtaq's writing embodies the true values of harmony, secularism, and brotherhood inherent in the land, and has brought honor to all of us by showcasing the greatness of Kannada on an international platform.

The Chief Minister expressed his hope that Mushtaq continues her meaningful writing for many more years, further promoting Kannada to the world. He also congratulated the talented translator Deepa Bhasti for her work on the award-winning piece 'Hriday Deep.'

Mushtaq's work, selected from six books worldwide, captivated the judges with its humorous, vibrant, conversational, poignant, and bitter style, depicting familial and community tensions.