Banu Mushtaq

Banu Mushtaq is a celebrated Indian writer, activist, and lawyer whose work powerfully illuminates the lives of Muslim women in South India. Writing in Kannada, she is best known for her short story collection "Heart Lamp", which won the prestigious JCB Prize for Literature in 2025 in its English translation by Deepa Bhasthi. Her fiction blends compassion with unflinching honesty, exploring themes of faith, gender, and resilience within conservative communities. A recipient of multiple literary honours, Mushtaq has long championed social justice both on the page and in the courtroom, making her a vital voice in contemporary Indian literature.