General Awareness ยท English Language

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

Who is considered the father of Indian English literature?

  1. Rabindranath Tagore

  2. Raja Rao

  3. Mulk Raj Anand

  4. R.K. Narayan
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Raja Rao is widely regarded as the father of Indian English literature for his pioneering work, 'Kanthapura', which was published in 1938.

Multiple choice

Which of the following authors is NOT associated with the 'Midnight's Children' generation of Indian English writers?

  1. Salman Rushdie

  2. Arundhati Roy

  3. Amitav Ghosh

  4. Vikram Seth
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Vikram Seth is not typically associated with the 'Midnight's Children' generation, which refers to a group of Indian English writers who emerged after India's independence in 1947.

Multiple choice

Which of the following works by R.K. Narayan is set in the fictional town of Malgudi?

  1. The Guide

  2. Swami and Friends

  3. The English Teacher

  4. Waiting for the Mahatma
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

R.K. Narayan's 'Swami and Friends' is set in the fictional town of Malgudi, which serves as the backdrop for many of his other works as well.

Multiple choice

Who is the protagonist of Arundhati Roy's novel, 'The God of Small Things'?

  1. Estha and Rahel

  2. Ammu

  3. Velutha

  4. Baby Kochamma
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Estha and Rahel are the twin protagonists of Arundhati Roy's 'The God of Small Things'.

Multiple choice

Which of the following works by Salman Rushdie is a magical realist novel?

  1. Midnight's Children

  2. Shame

  3. The Satanic Verses

  4. Haroun and the Sea of Stories
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Salman Rushdie's 'Haroun and the Sea of Stories' is a magical realist novel that tells the story of a young boy's quest to save his father's storytelling abilities.

Multiple choice

Who is the protagonist of Mulk Raj Anand's novel, 'Untouchable'?

  1. Bakha

  2. Sohini

  3. Lakha

  4. Kasturba
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Bakha is the protagonist of Mulk Raj Anand's 'Untouchable', which explores the life of an untouchable sweeper in pre-independent India.

Multiple choice

Which of the following works by Amitav Ghosh is set during the Opium Wars?

  1. The Glass Palace

  2. The Hungry Tide

  3. Sea of Poppies

  4. River of Smoke
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Amitav Ghosh's 'Sea of Poppies' is set during the Opium Wars of the 19th century.

Multiple choice

Who is the protagonist of Anita Desai's novel, 'Clear Light of Day'?

  1. Bim

  2. Tara

  3. Raja

  4. Baba
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Bim is the protagonist of Anita Desai's 'Clear Light of Day', which explores the themes of identity and belonging in a postcolonial society.

Multiple choice

Which of the following works by Vikram Chandra is a historical novel set during the Indian Rebellion of 1857?

  1. Red Earth and Pouring Rain

  2. Love and Longing in Bombay

  3. Sacred Games

  4. Geek Sublime
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Vikram Chandra's 'Red Earth and Pouring Rain' is a historical novel set during the Indian Rebellion of 1857.

Multiple choice

Which of the following works by Kiran Desai is set in the Himalayan foothills?

  1. Hullabaloo in the Guava Orchard

  2. The Inheritance of Loss

  3. The Village by the Sea

  4. The Gospel of Yudas
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Kiran Desai's 'The Inheritance of Loss' is set in the Himalayan foothills and explores the themes of displacement and loss.

Multiple choice

Who is the protagonist of Rohinton Mistry's novel, 'A Fine Balance'?

  1. Dina Dalal

  2. Ishvar Darji

  3. Omprakash Darji

  4. Maneck Kohlah
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Dina Dalal is the protagonist of Rohinton Mistry's 'A Fine Balance', which explores the lives of four individuals during the Emergency period in India.

Multiple choice

Which of the following works by Aravind Adiga is a satirical novel set in contemporary India?

  1. The White Tiger

  2. Last Man in Tower

  3. Selection Day

  4. Amnesty
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Aravind Adiga's 'The White Tiger' is a satirical novel set in contemporary India and explores the themes of class and inequality.

Multiple choice

Who is the protagonist of Amit Chaudhuri's novel, 'A New World'?

  1. Bonobashi Mitra

  2. Sanjay Bhattacharya

  3. Doulatpur

  4. Nirmala
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Bonobashi Mitra is the protagonist of Amit Chaudhuri's 'A New World', which explores the themes of memory and loss in a postcolonial society.

Multiple choice

Which prominent Indian author is known for his exploration of regional identity and the complexities of nationalism in his works?

  1. Rabindranath Tagore

  2. Premchand

  3. R.K. Narayan

  4. Mulk Raj Anand
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Premchand, also known as Dhanpat Rai, is widely regarded as one of the foremost writers in Hindi literature. His works often delved into the social and political issues of his time, exploring the tensions between regional and national identities.

Multiple choice

Which Indian novel is widely considered a classic example of regionalist literature?

  1. Gitanjali

  2. Godan

  3. Malgudi Days

  4. Train to Pakistan
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Premchand's novel 'Godan' is a seminal work of regionalist literature in Hindi. It portrays the struggles of rural farmers and explores the social and economic issues affecting their lives.