Banu Mushtaq, author of “Heart Lamp” and Deepa Bhasthi, translator, winners of The International Booker Prize 2025 at the Tate Modern in London on May 20, 2025.
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1. Banu Mushtaq, Deepa Bhasthi win International Booker Prize for Kannada short story collection ‘Heart Lamp’
Writer, activist and lawyer Banu Mushtaq‘s short story collection ‘Heart Lamp’ on Tuesday (May 20, 2025) night became the first Kannada title to win the coveted GBP 50,000 International Booker Prize in London. Mushtaq described her win as a victory for diversity as she collected the prize at a ceremony at Tate Modern along with her translator Deepa Bhasthi, who translated the title from Kannada to English.
Shortlisted among six worldwide titles, Mushtaq’s work appealed to the judges for its “witty, vivid, colloquial, moving and excoriating” style of capturing portraits of family and community tensions. As word of the honour spread, congratulatory messages from Kannada writers, academics and readers, as well as political leaders poured in. To know more about Banu Mushtaq and her body of work, click here.
2. Book Prize: Back home in Karnataka, euphoric spouses of Banu, Deepa celebrate their global achivement
Mushtaq Mohiyudin was wide awake with his fingers crossed in Hassan on May 20 night, when the International Booker Prize ceremony was underway in London. When the name of his writer-wife Banu Mushtaq was finally announced as the winner, he was ecstatic beyond words. A Hassan-based businessman, Mr. Mohiyudin couldn’t accompany Ms. Banu for the award ceremony due to visa issues. However, he and his son, Taher, celebrated the occasion by sharing a sweet at their home on May 21.
In quiet contrast, Kodagu-born translator Deepa Bhasthi’s husband, Chettira Sujan Nanaiah, welcomed her landmark win in solitude at their peaceful home in Madikeri with with their five pet dogs, and congratulatory phone calls. Mr. Nanaiah — an artist-turned-farmer —shared his happiness and disbelief at the award. “She’s still in shock and joy. We spoke briefly in the morning. I couldn’t be there with her due to other commitments, but I’m extremely happy and proud,” he said.
3. M.A. Saleem is the new DG&IGP of Karnataka
Dr. M.A. Saleem, a 1993-batch IPS officer, has been appointed as the new Director General & Inspector General of Police of Karnataka. He takes charge as the 42nd DG&IGP of the State. In a notification, the Government of Karnataka stated that Mr. Saleem will replace Dr. Alok Mohan, a 1987-batch IPS officer — who retired from service on May 21 — as the Head of the Police Force of Karnataka.
Dr. Saleem was serving as the Director General of Police, Criminal Investigation Department (Special Units & Economic Offences) in Bengaluru. Dr. Saleem, who also held the post of Special Commissioner (Traffic), Bengaluru City, in 2022, is best known for his track record of innovative traffic management.
4. Young cricketer’s family in Karnataka loses over ₹24 lakh to cyber fraudsters posing as IPL selectors
A young cricketer’s family lost over ₹24 lakh to cyber fraudsters who falsely promised to include him in a IPL team. Posing as agents of the Rajasthan Royals team, fraudsters contacted Rakesh Yadure (19), an aspiring cricketer of Chinchani village near Chikkodi in Belagavi district. He received messages on Instagram, praising his skills and offering him a place in the IPL team.
This followed his performance in a State-level cricket match held in Hyderabad in May 2024. By April 19, 2025, the fraudsters made his family transfer ₹23,53,550 online, promising him match fees of ₹4.8 lakh per match. However, the they vanished without a trace after taking the money. Rakesh’s father is a security guard in the KSRTC and had taken loans from various people to pay up.
5. Karnataka gives trained elephants to Andhra Pradesh to check human-animal conflict
Karnataka handed over four kumki elephants to Andhra Pradesh to tackle the man-animal conflict along the Karnataka-Andhra Pradesh border at an event in Vidhana Soudha on May 21, 2025.
The State has agreed to hand over six kumki elephants to help Andhra Pradesh control herds of rogue jumbos entering farmlands, ransacking fields, and attacking people. These include Ranjan, Deva, Krishna, Abhimanyu, and Mahendra.
Published – May 21, 2025 07:13 pm IST
