Heartlamp by Banu Mushtaq at Kahaani South Boston

Join us at Kahaani in South Boston as we discuss Heart Lamp: Selected Stories by Banu Mushtaq, winner of the 2025 International Booker Prize.
In this remarkable collection of twelve stories, Mushtaq shines a light on the lives of women and girls in Muslim communities in southern India. Written over more than three decades and originally published in Kannada, the stories are by turns funny, moving, sharp, and deeply humane. Through memorable characters—spirited children, resilient mothers, outspoken grandmothers, and flawed husbands—Mushtaq explores family, faith, community, and the everyday challenges of navigating tradition and change.
Banu Mushtaq is an activist, lawyer, journalist, and writer from Karnataka, India. Her lifelong advocacy for women's rights and social justice informs these stories, which offer both a vivid portrait of a particular place and culture and insights into universal human experiences.

As always, our discussion will be relaxed, welcoming, and accompanied by delicious food. Whether you finished every page, read only a few stories, or are simply curious about contemporary Indian literature, you're invited to join us for great conversation, new connections, and a memorable meal at Kahaani.
Discussion prompts and spoilers are welcome—but so are opinions, questions, and second helpings!
📖 Book: Heart Lamp: Selected Stories by Banu Mushtaq
📍 Location: Kahaani, South Boston
🍛 Come for the fiction, stay for the food and fellowship.