The literary landscape of India is rich and diverse. From venerable names like Rabindranath Tagore and Amrita Pritam to relatively young minds like Jhumpa Lahiri, over the years, India has given several gems to the literary world. Their work transcends borders, generations, and languages. Let us know about five famous Indian authors and some of their incredible work.
Embark on the journey with us where we navigate the Indian literary world and explore the works of the famous Indian authors. Here are some writers and Indian writer books that are breaking the barriers and inspiring readers across the world. Take a look-
Rabindranath Tagore’s name is etched in global history. Also known as “the Bard of Bengal”, “Gurudeb”, “Biswokobi”, and “Kobiguru”, he inspired generations with his contributions to the world of art and literature.
Tagore wore many hats. He was a poet, playwright, writer, philosopher, painter, composer, socialist, and educationist. His work is a tapestry woven with his philosophy, humanity, spirituality, socialism, modernism, and internationalism. His contributions in the areas of art, literature, education, and music significantly influenced the Bengal Renaissance. In 1913, he became the first non-European to win a Nobel Prize.
Among his most noted works are Gitanjali, a collection of poems, that got him the Nobel Prize, Sonar Tari (poetry), Manasi (poetry), Stray Birds (poetry), Gora (novel), Choker Bali (novel), Ghare-Baire (novel), Noukadubi (novel), Kabuliwala (short story), Mashi (short story), The Postmaster (short story), and more.
Salman Rushdie is one of the most celebrated India-born British-American authors. He conjugates magical realism or marvelous realism with historical fiction to create thought-provoking narratives. Known for his bold perspectives, Rushdie often stirs both admiration and controversy through his literary work and his personal life.
He has won several accolades throughout his career, including a Booker Prize (1981) for his second book, Midnight’s Children, the Austrian State Prize for European Literature (1993), the Hans Christian Andersen Literature Award (2014), and the Swiss Freethinkers Award (2019) to name a few. The University of Liege, Belgium honored him with Doctor Honoris Causa in 1999. In 2007, Harvard University facilitated him with Outstanding Lifetime Achievement in Cultural Humanism. He received the honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters from Indiana University in 2018 and a Doctor of Letters from Emory University in 2015. He has several other awards, honors, and recognition to his credit.
Apart from Midnight’s Children, his other recognized books include Satanic Verses, The Moor’s Last Sigh, Shame, Golden House, and more.
Amrita Pritam was a prolific essayist, novelist, and poet from Punjab in British India. Born on 31 August 1919, she enriched Punjabi literature with her work. She has penned essays, biographies, poetry, fiction, folk songs, and an autobiography. Her work has been translated into several languages, including Hindi, Urdu, English, Danish, French, Mandarin, Japanese, and other languages, making her an international image.
Recipient of several prestigious awards and honors, her greatest work was a long poem, “Sunehade”. She was awarded the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1956 for the same. In 1982, she was awarded the Jnanpith Award for Kagaz Te Canvas. She received the Padma Shri Award in 1969 and Padma Vibhushan in 2004.
Her works include acclaimed novels like Pinjar, Rang ka Patta, Yaatri, Jilavatan, etc.; short stories including Kahaniya jo Kahaniya Nahi, Kahaniyo ke Angan Mein, and Stench of Kerosene; and poetry including, Amrit Lehran, O Gitan Valia, Punjab Di Awaaz, Sunehade, Ashoka Cheti, Ik Si Anita, Kagaz Te Canvas, Ek Baat and more. She also shared her life with her readers through her biographies, Black Rose, Rasidi Ticket, and Shadows of Words.
This British-American author was born to Indian immigrants from the state of West Bengal. The Pulitzer Prize winner author is also the recipient of several prestigious awards and honors in the realm of literature.
After facing initial rejections, her debut book, Interpreter of Maladies, a collection of short stories, was released in 1999, for which, she received the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. Her first novel, The Namesake, was released in 2003. Her second short story collection, Unaccustomed Earth, debuted at number one on The New York Times best-seller list. Most of her stories are heavily influenced by her experience as an immigrant.
An eminent name in the global literature world, Jumpa’s other work includes, The Lowland (novel), Whereabouts (translated version of her Italian novel, Dove mi trovo), Roman Stories, Il quaderno di Nerina (poetry), and Translating Myself and Others (non-fiction) to name a few.
Arundhati Roy is one of the most acclaimed Indian authors of the contemporary world. She received the Booker Prize for her debut novel, The God of Small Things, in 1997. Also an environmentalist and political activist, Arundhati’s work staunchly demonstrates her stance on the nation’s socio-political affairs.
Her work in the realms of social, environmental, and political activism made her one of the most influential figures in the country. Honored with several awards, such as the Cultural Freedom Award by the Lannan Foundation (2002), the Sydney Peace Prize (2004), the Orwell Award by the National Council of Teachers of English, and many more.
Roy’s noted literary works include The God of Small Things, The Ministry of Utmost Happiness, The End of Imagination, The Cost of Living, The Greater Common Goods, The Algebra of Infinite Justice, Kashmir: The Case for Freedom, and many more.
The literary scene of India is mulched by the presence of several time-honored and young authors. They have made multifaceted contributions in the fields of literature, art, and social activism. Through their works, they have captured the essence of India's diverse experiences, challenged conventions, and provoked meaningful dialogue. Their influence continues to shape the intellectual and cultural fabric of the nation.
