Description

Heart Lamp by Banu Mushtaq is a powerful and emotionally resonant work that gives voice to the lives of Muslim women in southern India. Through a collection of interconnected stories, Mushtaq explores themes of love, faith, resistance, gender, and social constraint, portraying everyday struggles with quiet intensity and deep compassion.

Originally written in Kannada, the stories are marked by their realism, moral urgency, and sensitivity to the inner lives of women negotiating family, religion, and personal freedom. Heart Lamp sheds light on marginalised experiences often overlooked in mainstream literature, offering readers a nuanced understanding of resilience, dignity, and silent rebellion. Subtle yet impactful, the book stands as an important contribution to contemporary Indian literature.

About the Author

Banu Mushtaq is an acclaimed Indian writer, activist, and lawyer, best known for her Kannada-language short fiction that focuses on gender justice, social inequality, and minority experiences. Her writing draws heavily from lived realities and grassroots activism, lending her stories an authenticity and emotional depth. Mushtaq has received critical recognition for her contribution to regional literature and for amplifying voices that are often unheard. Her work continues to influence discussions on feminism, identity, and social reform in India.