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Indian Literature and Authors

9,599 Questions

Indian Literature and Authors is a crucial topic for competitive exams, focusing on famous writers, notable books, and literary awards. Questions cover various regional, postcolonial, and historical texts. This collection helps test takers prepare effectively for general awareness sections.

Famous Indian authorsNotable Indian novelsPostcolonial literatureLiterary award winnersRegional Indian literature

Indian Literature and Authors Questions

Multiple choice

Which Indian writer won the Sahitya Akademi Award for his work in translation?

  1. Rabindranath Tagore

  2. Munshi Premchand

  3. R. K. Narayan

  4. Vikram Seth

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

R. K. Narayan won the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1958 for his work in translation, specifically for his English translation of his Tamil novel Swami and Friends.

Multiple choice

Who is considered the father of Indian fashion journalism?

  1. Premchand

  2. Khushwant Singh

  3. Tarun Tahiliani

  4. Rahul Bose

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Premchand, the renowned Indian author, is also credited with being the father of Indian fashion journalism. He wrote extensively about fashion and style in his novels and short stories.

Multiple choice

Which Indian author's novel "The God of Small Things" explores the impact of social change on a family in Kerala?

  1. Arundhati Roy

  2. Anita Desai

  3. Vikram Seth

  4. Jhumpa Lahiri

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Arundhati Roy's "The God of Small Things" delves into the lives of a family in Kerala, examining the effects of social change and caste discrimination on their relationships.

Multiple choice

In Mulk Raj Anand's novel "Untouchable", the protagonist Bakha belongs to which caste?

  1. Brahmin

  2. Kshatriya

  3. Vaishya

  4. Shudra

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Mulk Raj Anand's "Untouchable" portrays the life of Bakha, a young boy from the Shudra caste, who faces discrimination and social injustice due to his caste.

Multiple choice

Which Indian writer's novel "Midnight's Children" explores the impact of India's independence on the lives of individuals born at the stroke of midnight on August 15, 1947?

  1. Salman Rushdie

  2. Arundhati Roy

  3. Vikram Seth

  4. Jhumpa Lahiri

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Salman Rushdie's "Midnight's Children" follows the lives of individuals born at the exact moment of India's independence, examining how their destinies intertwine with the nation's history.

Multiple choice

In Anita Desai's novel "Clear Light of Day", the protagonist Bim is a woman who struggles against which social norm?

  1. Caste discrimination

  2. Religious oppression

  3. Patriarchal society

  4. Economic inequality

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Anita Desai's "Clear Light of Day" explores the life of Bim, a woman who challenges the patriarchal norms of her society and seeks independence and self-expression.

Multiple choice

Which Indian author's novel "The White Tiger" examines the class divide and social inequality in modern India?

  1. Aravind Adiga

  2. Vikram Seth

  3. Jhumpa Lahiri

  4. Amitav Ghosh

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Aravind Adiga's "The White Tiger" delves into the life of Balram Halwai, a poor villager who becomes a successful entrepreneur, highlighting the stark contrasts between India's wealthy elite and the marginalized masses.

Multiple choice

In R. K. Narayan's novel "The Guide", the protagonist Raju is a tour guide who becomes involved in a love triangle with whom?

  1. Rosie

  2. Marco

  3. Vasu

  4. Nalini

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

R. K. Narayan's "The Guide" follows the story of Raju, a tour guide who falls in love with Rosie, a beautiful dancer, and the complications that arise from their relationship.

Multiple choice

Which Indian writer's novel "The Inheritance of Loss" explores the impact of the Partition of India on a family?

  1. Kiran Desai

  2. Arundhati Roy

  3. Vikram Seth

  4. Jhumpa Lahiri

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Kiran Desai's "The Inheritance of Loss" examines the lives of a family affected by the Partition of India, highlighting the emotional and psychological consequences of displacement and separation.

Multiple choice

In Vikram Seth's novel "A Suitable Boy", the protagonist Lata is a young woman who is expected to marry according to which tradition?

  1. Arranged marriage

  2. Love marriage

  3. Inter-caste marriage

  4. Same-sex marriage

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Vikram Seth's "A Suitable Boy" explores the life of Lata, a young woman who is expected to marry according to the tradition of arranged marriage, highlighting the social and cultural pressures surrounding this practice.

Multiple choice

Which Indian author's novel "The Great Indian Novel" satirizes the political and social history of India?

  1. Shashi Tharoor

  2. Arundhati Roy

  3. Vikram Seth

  4. Jhumpa Lahiri

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Shashi Tharoor's "The Great Indian Novel" is a satirical take on the political and social history of India, using the Mahabharata as a framework to explore the country's complex past.

Multiple choice

In Jhumpa Lahiri's novel "The Namesake", the protagonist Gogol Ganguli struggles with his identity as an Indian-American. What is his profession?

  1. Architect

  2. Doctor

  3. Engineer

  4. Writer

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Jhumpa Lahiri's "The Namesake" follows the life of Gogol Ganguli, an Indian-American architect, as he navigates his cultural identity and the expectations of his family and society.

Multiple choice

Which Indian author's novel "The Shadow Lines" examines the impact of the Partition of India on a family in Calcutta?

  1. Amitav Ghosh

  2. Arundhati Roy

  3. Vikram Seth

  4. Jhumpa Lahiri

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Amitav Ghosh's "The Shadow Lines" explores the lives of a family in Calcutta during the Partition of India, highlighting the political and social divisions that shaped their experiences.

Multiple choice

In Vikram Chandra's novel "Sacred Games", the protagonist Sartaj Singh is a police officer who investigates a crime involving which criminal?

  1. Ganesh Gaitonde

  2. Bada Sajid

  3. Katekar

  4. Paro

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Vikram Chandra's "Sacred Games" follows the story of Sartaj Singh, a police officer who investigates a crime involving the notorious criminal Ganesh Gaitonde, uncovering a web of corruption and violence.

Multiple choice

Which Indian author's novel "The Palace of Illusions" retells the story of the Mahabharata from the perspective of Draupadi?

  1. Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni

  2. Arundhati Roy

  3. Vikram Seth

  4. Jhumpa Lahiri

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni's "The Palace of Illusions" presents a unique perspective on the Mahabharata by retelling the epic from the viewpoint of Draupadi, offering insights into her experiences and struggles.