International Booker Prize 2025

International Booker Prize Latest News

Banu Mushtaq, an Indian writer, lawyer, and activist, has become the first author writing in Kannada to win the prestigious International Booker Prize for her short story collection Heart Lamp.

About International Booker Prize

• The prize, which is awarded annually, celebrates the best works of long-form fiction or collections of short stories translated into English and published in the UK and/or Ireland.
• History:
  • It was founded in 2005 as a biennial award recognising an author’s contribution to world literature. 
  • At the time there were no requirements that the book be published in a language other than English.
  • The rules changed in 2015, and it is now awarded annually for a work of fiction that is originally written in another language and then translated into English. 
• Any nationality is eligible, as long as the work is translated into English.
• It recognises the vital work of translators, with the £50,000 prize money divided equally between authors and translators. 
• In addition, shortlisted authors and translators each receive £2,500.
• Administered By: The Booker Prize Foundation.
• International Booker Prize 2025:
  • Heart Lamp by Banu Mushtaq, translated from Kannada by Deepa Bhasthi, is the winner of the 2025 prize. 
  • The winning book is the first collection of short stories to be awarded the prize, and the first winner originally written in Kannada.
  • Spanning stories written between 1990 and 2023, Heart Lamp is a portrayal of the struggles faced by Muslim women in southern India.

International Booker Prize FAQs

Q1: What is the difference between Booker Prize and International Booker Prize?

Ans: The Booker Prize honors the best original novel written in English, while the International Booker Prize celebrates the best work of fiction translated into English from another language.

Q2: Who administers the International Booker Prize?

Ans: Booker Prize Foundation

Q3: Which book won the International Booker Prize in 2025?

Ans: Heart Lamp by Banu Mushtaq, translated from Kannada by Deepa Bhasthi, is the winner of the 2025 prize. 

Source: NDTV