In a dozen stories written across three decades -Banu Mushtaq, a major voice within progressive Kannada literature - portrays the lives of those often on the periphery of society: girls and women in Muslim communities in southern India. These stories speak truth to power and slice through the fault lines of caste, class. and religion widespread in contemporary society. exposing the rot within: corruption, oppression. injustice. violence. Yet, at its heart. Heart Lamp returns us to the true, great pleasures of reading: solid storytelling. unforgettable characters, vivid dialogue, tensions simmering under the surface, and a surprise at each turn. Deceptively simple, these stories hold immense emotional. moral, and socio-political weight. urging us to dig deeper.