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Saudi Arabia’s King Abdulaziz Public Library Celebrates World Book Day

The library's World Book Day celebration continues until 5:00 p.m. on Saturday. SPA
The library's World Book Day celebration continues until 5:00 p.m. on Saturday. SPA
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Saudi Arabia’s King Abdulaziz Public Library Celebrates World Book Day

The library's World Book Day celebration continues until 5:00 p.m. on Saturday. SPA
The library's World Book Day celebration continues until 5:00 p.m. on Saturday. SPA

To mark World Book Day, observed annually on April 23, the King Abdulaziz Public Library in Riyadh launched the musical play "Passion" at the Riyadh Municipality Theater.
The library's World Book Day celebration continues until 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, featuring a cultural symposium hosted by a group of writers and literary figures. The symposium will discuss a range of topics related to books and authorship.
Furthermore, the library is expanding the scope of reading, research, and the preservation of books for all segments of society. It offers events, seminars, poetry readings, book discussions, children's programs, and aims to preserve heritage initiatives.
The library also translates different media on Saudi culture into various languages alongside Western travelogues of the Kingdom, promoting the continuous exchange of knowledge and culture.

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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.