Indian Literature and Authors

"Waiting for Mahatma" was written by R.K. Narayan and published in 1955. The novel explores Gandhi's influence through the character Sriram, a young man who becomes involved in the independence movement. Note that option B has a typo - it should be "Narayan" not "Naraian".

Indomitable Spirit (2005) was APJ Abdul Kalam's latest book at the time this question was likely written, co-authored with Arun Tiwari. The book focuses on empowering youth through education, courage, and perseverance. Note: This is temporally unstable as Kalam authored more books later; the answer was correct circa 2005-2006.

Jayadeva, a 12th-century Sanskrit poet from Odisha, wrote the 'Gita Govinda', a lyrical poem celebrating the love between Krishna and Radha. Vidyapati wrote in Maithili, Surdas was a Krishna devotee who wrote 'Sursagar', and Mirabai wrote devotional bhajans to Krishna, but none authored the Gita Govinda.

Charles Dickens (1812-1870) wrote 'Hard Times' in 1854, a social novel criticizing industrial society and utilitarian philosophy. Vinay Tendulkar is a modern Indian playwright (not 'Tendulakar'), and M. Tendulkar (likely referring to Mahasweta Devi or similar) is a contemporary writer. Tulsidas wrote 'Ramcharitmanas' in medieval Hindi.

Dr. S. Radhakrishnan (1888-1975), philosopher and former President of India, wrote 'The Hindu View of Life' (1926), presenting Hindu philosophy to Western audiences. Kalidas wrote Sanskrit plays like 'Shakuntala', while Z.A. Bhutto and B. Bhutto were Pakistani political figures.

Zulfikar Ali Bhutto (1928-1979), former Prime Minister of Pakistan, wrote 'If I Am Assassinated' in 1979 while in prison, predicting his own execution. J.P. (Jayaprakash) Narayan was an Indian political leader, J.K. Rowling wrote Harry Potter series, and Kabir was a medieval mystic poet.

Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772-1834) wrote 'Kubla Khan' in 1797, a romantic poem inspired by a dream. Kalidas wrote Sanskrit literature, H.G. Wells wrote science fiction, and Salman Rushdie is a contemporary author. The poem was published in 1816.

Jean-Christophe is a Nobel Prize-winning novel by French author Romain Rolland, published between 1904-1912. It's a multi-volume work tracing the life of a German musical genius. Kuldip Nayar and Salman Rushdie are modern writers, while B. Bhatt is not associated with this classic work.

Kagaz te Kanvas (Paper and Canvas) is a collection of essays by renowned Punjabi writer Amrita Pritam. She is one of the most prominent figures in Punjabi literature, known for both poetry and prose. J. Milton and G. Greene are English writers, while Munshi Premchand wrote in Hindi and Urdu.

Kanyadaan is a controversial play by Vijay Tendulkar, one of India's most influential playwrights. The play deals with themes of caste, class, and social hypocrisy in modern India. Tendulkar's works are known for their bold social commentary.

Hungry Stones (Kshudhita Pashan) is a short story by Rabindranath Tagore, collected in his work of the same name. It's a supernatural tale about a tax collector's encounter with a haunted mansion. Tagore's short stories often explore mystical and psychological themes.

Liberty in the Modern State is a political work by British political theorist Harold Laski. He was a prominent Labour Party member and taught at the London School of Economics. The book examines the concept of liberty in democratic societies.

Malvikagnimitra is an ancient Sanskrit play by Kalidas (Kalidasa), one of India's greatest Sanskrit poets and playwrights. It's considered one of his earlier works and deals with court intrigue and romance. Kalidas also wrote Shakuntala and Meghaduta.

Mother India is a controversial book by Katherine Mayo, published in 1927. The book was highly critical of Indian society and culture, causing widespread outrage in India. Mahatma Gandhi called it a 'reporter's drain inspector's report.' R.K. Narayan is a celebrated Indian novelist.

Sahityarathi Lakshminath Bezbarua wrote the poem "O Mor Aponar Desh" inspired by his patriotic feeling. Later, it was accepted as the national song of Assam.