Book Synopsis Heartlamp is a career-spanning selection of eleven stories published originally in the Kannada language between 1990 and 2023. Mushtaq began writing as one of the few women authors within the progressive Bandaya literary movement in southwestern India in the 1970, and in this collection it’s the everyday lives of Muslim girls and women–daughters, homemakers, surgeons, lawyers–she so exquisitely cherishes and captures. Mushtaq’s dry and gentle humor, her relatable and intensely real personalities, and her fiery social criticism mark her as an astonishing writer and observer of human nature, whose stories build disconcerting emotional heights out of a plain but rich spoken style. This is a collection sure to be read for years to come. Review Quotes “A significant presence in Kannada literature, Banu Mushtaq reveals the varied realities of contemporary women with rare talent and art. Deepa Bhasthi’s rich translation captures the original’s nuances of voice, context and experience, bringing this important work into English for new readers in India and internationally.” –PEN Presents Selection Panel “One of Karnataka’s leading progressive writers.” –New Age Islam About the Author Banu Mushtaq lives in Hassan, a small town in Karnataka, where she works as an advocate and still remains involved in various social movements.