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Saudi Arabia, Greece Discuss Strengthening Cultural Relations

The Saudi and Greek Culture Ministers have co-chaired the inaugural meeting in Jeddah of the Culture Committee of the Saudi-Greek Strategic Partnership Council. SPA
The Saudi and Greek Culture Ministers have co-chaired the inaugural meeting in Jeddah of the Culture Committee of the Saudi-Greek Strategic Partnership Council. SPA
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Saudi Arabia, Greece Discuss Strengthening Cultural Relations

The Saudi and Greek Culture Ministers have co-chaired the inaugural meeting in Jeddah of the Culture Committee of the Saudi-Greek Strategic Partnership Council. SPA
The Saudi and Greek Culture Ministers have co-chaired the inaugural meeting in Jeddah of the Culture Committee of the Saudi-Greek Strategic Partnership Council. SPA

Saudi Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan and his Greek counterpart Dr. Lina Mendoni have co-chaired the inaugural meeting in Jeddah of the Culture Committee of the Saudi-Greek Strategic Partnership Council.
Prince Badr welcomed his Greek counterpart to the Kingdom, expressing hope that the visit would offer her insight into the Kingdom’s rich cultural heritage and deep-rooted historical legacy. He emphasized that the meeting aims to strengthen international cultural exchange between the two countries for the mutual benefit of their peoples.
The two ministers underscored the importance of enhancing cultural cooperation between the Kingdom and Greece and activating the memorandum of understanding on cultural collaboration, signed in July 2022.
They praised the ongoing collaboration between the two nations, highlighted by Greece's participation in the second annual Saudi Crafts Week (Banan) held in Riyadh in November, as well as the participation of Greece’s Benaki Museum in the Islamic Arts Biennale 2025, currently taking place in Jeddah from January through May.
Both ministers commended the organization of the “Saudi Cultural Week in Greece,” held last year at the Zappeion Hall in Athens, featuring a special pavilion for the “Year of the Camel 2024” initiative along with musical and theatrical performances, traditional crafts workshops, culinary arts pavilions, a calligraphy exhibition, a fashion show, Saudi film screenings, and other cultural showcases.

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Indian Author Banu Mushtaq Wins International Booker Prize with Short Story Collection

Banu Mushtaq, author of shortlisted novel 'Heart Lamp' poses for photographers after her novel was announced as winner of the 2025 International Booker Prize at the Tate Modern, in London, Britain, 20 May 2025. EPA/TOLGA AKMEN
Banu Mushtaq, author of shortlisted novel 'Heart Lamp' poses for photographers after her novel was announced as winner of the 2025 International Booker Prize at the Tate Modern, in London, Britain, 20 May 2025. EPA/TOLGA AKMEN
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Indian Author Banu Mushtaq Wins International Booker Prize with Short Story Collection

Banu Mushtaq, author of shortlisted novel 'Heart Lamp' poses for photographers after her novel was announced as winner of the 2025 International Booker Prize at the Tate Modern, in London, Britain, 20 May 2025. EPA/TOLGA AKMEN
Banu Mushtaq, author of shortlisted novel 'Heart Lamp' poses for photographers after her novel was announced as winner of the 2025 International Booker Prize at the Tate Modern, in London, Britain, 20 May 2025. EPA/TOLGA AKMEN

Indian author Banu Mushtaq and translator Deepa Bhasthi won the International Booker Prize for fiction Tuesday for “Heart Lamp,” a collection of 12 short stories written over a period of more than 30 years and which chronicle the everyday lives and struggles of women in southern India.

The award was announced by bestselling Booker Prize-longlisted author Max Porter in his role as chair of the five-member voting panel, at a ceremony at London’s Tate Modern.

It is the first time the award has been given to a collection of short stories. Bhasthi is the first Indian translator — and ninth female translator — to win the prize since it took on its current form in 2016. Mushtaq is the sixth female author to be awarded the prize since then, The Associated Press reported.

Written in Kannada, which is spoken by around 65 million people, primarily in southern India, Porter praised the “radical” nature of the translation, adding that “It’s been a joy” to listen to the evolving appreciation of the stories by members of the jury.

“These beautiful, busy, life-affirming stories rise from Kannada, interspersed with the extraordinary socio-political richness of other languages and dialects," said Porter. “It speaks of women’s lives, reproductive rights, faith, caste, power and oppression.”

The book, which beat five other finalists, comprises stories written from 1990 to 2023. They were selected and curated by Bhasthi, who was keen to preserve the multilingual nature of southern India in her translation.

Mushtaq, who is a lawyer and activist as well as writer, told a short list reading event on Sunday that the stories “are about women – how religion, society and politics demand unquestioning obedience from them, and in doing so, inflict inhumane cruelty upon them, turning them into mere subordinates.”

The 50,000-pound ($66,000) prize money is to be divided equally between author and translator. Each is presented with a trophy too.

The International Booker Prize is awarded every year. It is run alongside the Booker Prize for English-language fiction, which will be handed out in the fall.