Heart Ramp Wins Award for Translated Fiction

Banu Mushtaq’s collection of short stories, “Heart Ramp,” has made history by becoming the first translated work to win an award for this year’s translated fiction category. Originally written in Kannada, the official language of Karnataka in southern India, this collection stands out for its engaging storytelling.

The chair of the judging panel, Max Porter, praised the collection for offering “radical translation” to English readers, calling it an introduction to “beautiful, busy, life-affirming stories.” The translation was done by Deepa Bhasthi, the first Indian translator to receive this recognition. She selected the stories from about 50 submissions spanning six collections by Mushtaq over three decades.

The award, which amounts to £50,000, was shared equally between the writer and the translator, and was presented at the Tate Modern in London on Tuesday evening.

In a reflection on the Guardian’s shortlist, John Self expressed that Mushtaq and Bhasthi’s collection was “great” and deserved the win. He noted the book’s tone ranges widely, but maintains a consistent vision throughout.

Porter remarked on the extensive deliberation among the judges, which included poet Caleb Femi and writer Sana Goyal, before they reached a “unanimous” decision. He highlighted their search for “the best book” and described “Heart Ramp” as a “truly special book in terms of its politics.” Mushtaq’s stories delve into themes of feminism and provide profound insights into patriarchy and resistance. Yet, Porter made it clear that these narratives are ultimately centered on the beauty of everyday life, particularly from a female perspective.

Moreover, he praised Bhasthi’s translation for its richness, stating, “We celebrate the movement from one language to another.” He highlighted the text’s texture, which adds depth to the reading experience.

Bhasthi shared her thoughts on translation in an interview earlier this year, emphasizing the importance of introducing new words to readers. She described her approach as “accent translation,” which reminds readers of the cultural context, steering clear of exoticism while embedding a Kannada essence in English.

The finalists for this award also included works like “Volume I” by Solvej Balle (translated by Barbara J. Haberand), “A Small Boat” by Vincent Delcroix (translated by Helen Stevenson), and “Big Bird Eyes” by Hiromi Kawakami (translated by Asa Yoneda), among others.

Last year’s award went to Jenny Erpenbeck’s “Kairos,” translated by Michael Hoffman. Previous winners featured notable names like Olga Tokarczuk, Jenny Croft, and Han Kang, showcasing the vibrant landscape of translated literature.