Famous Modern Indian Authors
Delhi Police Exams - GK Section
Introduction to Modern Indian Literature
Modern Indian literature in English brings out the colours, emotions and changing spirit of Indian society. Authors such as R.K. Narayan, Arundhati Roy, Salman Rushdie, Ruskin Bond, Vikram Seth, Chetan Bhagat, Amitav Ghosh and others have made Indian stories globally relevant.
Questions on their famous books, life and awards feature regularly in Delhi Police, SSC and State exams.
Memory Trick: RAVJ–KRASA → R.K. Narayan, Arundhati, Vikram, Jhumpa, Khushwant, Ruskin, Amitav, Salman. (Think: “RAVJ from KRASA’s Bookshelf!”)
Author Highlights & Works
R.K. Narayan – The Creator of Malgudi
- Full Name: Rasipuram Krishnaswami Iyer Narayanaswami
- Famous Works: Malgudi Days, The Guide, Swami and Friends
- Genre: Fiction, Indian village life
- Theme: Simplicity, humour, and daily life
- Awards: Sahitya Akademi Award, Padma Vibhushan
Arundhati Roy – Voice of the Marginalized
- Full Name: Suzanna Arundhati Roy
- Famous Work: The God of Small Things (1997)
- Award: Booker Prize (1997)
- Theme: Social injustice, love, Kerala’s life
- Other: The Ministry of Utmost Happiness
Vikram Seth – The Poet of Love and Society
- Famous Works: A Suitable Boy, The Golden Gate
- Genre: Family epic, poetry, social realism
- Theme: Politics, marriage, tradition vs modernity
- Fact: A Suitable Boy: longest Indian novel in English
Jhumpa Lahiri – Writer of Indian Diaspora
- Famous Works: The Namesake, Interpreter of Maladies
- Award: Pulitzer Prize (2000)
- Theme: Immigrant identity, cultural belonging
- Background: Indian origin, London-born, US-raised
Khushwant Singh – The Bold Historian
- Famous Works: Train to Pakistan, The Company of Women
- Genre: Historical fiction, satire
- Theme: Partition, communal harmony, realism
- Journalist: Editor of Illustrated Weekly of India
- Awards: Padma Bhushan, Padma Vibhushan
Ruskin Bond – The Himalayan Storyteller
- Famous Works: The Blue Umbrella, Room on the Roof, Rusty Series
- Genre: Children’s literature, nature writing
- Theme: Innocence, hills of Mussoorie, relationships
- Awards: Sahitya Akademi, Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan
Amitav Ghosh – The Historical Voyager
- Famous Works: The Shadow Lines, The Glass Palace, Sea of Poppies
- Genre: Historical fiction
- Theme: Colonialism, migration, identity
- Awards: Sahitya Akademi, Jnanpith Award (2018)
Salman Rushdie – The Magical Realist
- Famous Works: Midnight’s Children, The Satanic Verses
- Genre: Magical realism
- Theme: Post-independence India, politics, religion
- Award: Booker Prize (1981)
- Fact: Midnight’s Children symbolizes India’s birth at midnight
Summary Table – Modern Indian Authors & Works
| Author | Famous Work(s) | Theme / Genre | Award / Remark |
|---|---|---|---|
| R.K. Narayan | Malgudi Days | Fictional town life | Padma Vibhushan |
| Arundhati Roy | The God of Small Things | Social issues | Booker Prize (1997) |
| Chetan Bhagat | 2 States, The 3 Mistakes of My Life | Youth, romance, education | Popular fiction |
| Jhumpa Lahiri | The Namesake | Diaspora, identity | Pulitzer Prize (2000) |
| Khushwant Singh | Train to Pakistan | Partition tragedy | Padma Vibhushan |
| Vikram Seth | A Suitable Boy | Family epic | Longest Indian novel |
| Ruskin Bond | The Blue Umbrella, Room on the Roof | Nature, childhood | Padma Bhushan |
| Amitav Ghosh | The Shadow Lines | History, culture | Jnanpith Award |
| Salman Rushdie | Midnight’s Children | Magical realism | Booker Prize (1981) |
PYQs (Delhi Police, SSC & State Exams)
Who is the author of Malgudi Days?
A) R.K. Narayan B) Khushwant Singh C) Ruskin Bond D) Vikram Seth
Show Answer
A) R.K. Narayan
Which book won the Booker Prize for Arundhati Roy?
A) The Namesake B) Midnight’s Children C) The God of Small Things D) The Shadow Lines
Show Answer
C) The God of Small Things
Train to Pakistan is based on which historical event?
A) Quit India Movement B) Partition of India C) Non-Cooperation Movement D) Jallianwala Bagh
Show Answer
B) Partition of India
Who wrote A Suitable Boy?
A) Ruskin Bond B) Chetan Bhagat C) Vikram Seth D) Amitav Ghosh
Show Answer
C) Vikram Seth
The Namesake is written by —
A) Jhumpa Lahiri B) Arundhati Roy C) Anita Desai D) Salman Rushdie
Show Answer
A) Jhumpa Lahiri
Who wrote The Shadow Lines?
A) Vikram Seth B) Amitav Ghosh C) Khushwant Singh D) Ruskin Bond
Show Answer
B) Amitav Ghosh
Which author is known for Midnight’s Children?
A) Chetan Bhagat B) Salman Rushdie C) Vikram Seth D) R.K. Narayan
Show Answer
B) Salman Rushdie
Ruskin Bond is famous for writing about —
A) Sports B) Hills & Nature C) Indian Politics D) Urban Life
Show Answer
B) Hills & Nature
Who wrote 2 States and The 3 Mistakes of My Life?
A) Chetan Bhagat B) R.K. Narayan C) Ruskin Bond D) Arundhati Roy
Show Answer
A) Chetan Bhagat
Who received the Booker Prize in 1981 for Midnight’s Children?
A) Salman Rushdie B) Arundhati Roy C) Jhumpa Lahiri D) Amitav Ghosh
Show Answer
A) Salman Rushdie
Quick Revision Table – Author & Genre Focus
| Author | Genre / Theme |
|---|---|
| R.K. Narayan | Simple Indian life (Fiction) |
| Arundhati Roy | Social & political issues |
| Chetan Bhagat | Youth, love, college life |
| Jhumpa Lahiri | NRI life, identity crisis |
| Khushwant Singh | Partition & history |
| Vikram Seth | Family, marriage, social change |
| Ruskin Bond | Nature & childhood |
| Amitav Ghosh | Historical fiction |
| Salman Rushdie | Magical realism |
Final Concept Recap
- R.K. Narayan – Malgudi Days (Fictional India)
- Arundhati Roy – The God of Small Things (Booker 1997)
- Vikram Seth – A Suitable Boy (Family Saga)
- Jhumpa Lahiri – The Namesake (Diaspora Life)
- Khushwant Singh – Train to Pakistan (Partition)
- Ruskin Bond – The Blue Umbrella (Nature)
- Amitav Ghosh – The Shadow Lines (History)
- Salman Rushdie – Midnight’s Children (Post-Independence India)
- Chetan Bhagat – 2 States (Youth & Modern Love)
From Malgudi to Midnight’s Children — modern Indian authors captured every emotion of India.
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