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Indian Literature and Authors

9,907 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 author's novel, 'The Shadow Lines', won the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1989?

  1. Amitav Ghosh

  2. Salman Rushdie

  3. Vikram Seth

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

Amitav Ghosh's novel, 'The Shadow Lines', won the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1989, examining the impact of historical events on individual lives and the interconnectedness of human experiences.

Multiple choice

Which Indian author's novel, 'The Hungry Tide', won the Man Asian Literary Prize in 2005?

  1. Amitav Ghosh

  2. Salman Rushdie

  3. Vikram Seth

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

Amitav Ghosh's novel, 'The Hungry Tide', won the Man Asian Literary Prize in 2005, exploring themes of environmental degradation, cultural diversity, and the search for meaning in a rapidly changing world.

Multiple choice

Which Indian author's novel, 'Sea of Poppies', was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize in 2008?

  1. Amitav Ghosh

  2. Salman Rushdie

  3. Vikram Seth

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

Amitav Ghosh's novel, 'Sea of Poppies', was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize in 2008, initiating his Ibis trilogy, a historical saga set in the 19th-century Indian Ocean.

Multiple choice

Which Indian author's novel, 'The Great Indian Novel', was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize in 1993?

  1. Shashi Tharoor

  2. Salman Rushdie

  3. Vikram Seth

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

Shashi Tharoor's novel, 'The Great Indian Novel', was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize in 1993, offering a satirical take on Indian history and politics.

Multiple choice

Which Indian author's novel, 'The Palace of Illusions', was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize in 2008?

  1. Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni

  2. Salman Rushdie

  3. Vikram Seth

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

Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni's novel, 'The Palace of Illusions', was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize in 2008, retelling the epic Mahabharata from the perspective of Draupadi, one of its central characters.

Multiple choice

Which Indian author's novel, 'The Far Field', was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize in 2019?

  1. Madhuri Vijay

  2. Salman Rushdie

  3. Vikram Seth

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

Madhuri Vijay's novel, 'The Far Field', was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize in 2019, exploring themes of displacement, identity, and the search for belonging.

Multiple choice

Which Indian author's novel, 'The Death of Vishnu', won the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1993?

  1. Manil Suri

  2. Salman Rushdie

  3. Vikram Seth

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

Manil Suri's novel, 'The Death of Vishnu', won the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1993, delving into the complexities of human relationships and the impact of social and political forces on individual lives.

Multiple choice

In the novel 'The God of Small Things' by Arundhati Roy, the protagonist Estha is ostracized from her community due to her:

  1. Intercaste marriage

  2. Religious beliefs

  3. Political affiliation

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

Estha's intercaste marriage with a man from a lower caste leads to her being ostracized by her community, highlighting the social and religious prejudices that exist in Indian society.

Multiple choice

In the poem 'The Question' by Kamala Das, the speaker expresses her:

  1. Desire for spiritual enlightenment

  2. Longing for romantic love

  3. Frustration with societal norms

  4. Yearning for material wealth
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The poem explores the speaker's frustration with societal expectations and norms, particularly those related to gender roles and relationships.

Multiple choice

In the novel 'The Inheritance of Loss' by Kiran Desai, the protagonist Sai's grandmother Nimi is a:

  1. Devout Hindu

  2. Agnostic

  3. Atheist

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

Nimi's strong Hindu beliefs and practices shape her worldview and influence her relationships with her family members.

Multiple choice

In the short story 'The Parrot's Tale' by Ruskin Bond, the protagonist Rakesh is a:

  1. Hindu priest

  2. Muslim cleric

  3. Christian missionary

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

Rakesh's role as a Hindu priest highlights the significance of religion in his life and community.

Multiple choice

In the novel 'The White Tiger' by Aravind Adiga, the protagonist Balram Halwai's rise to power is influenced by his:

  1. Religious devotion

  2. Political connections

  3. Business acumen

  4. Criminal activities
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Balram's involvement in criminal activities, such as murder and extortion, is a reflection of the moral ambiguity and corruption that exist within Indian society.

Multiple choice

In the novel 'The Namesake' by Jhumpa Lahiri, the protagonist Gogol's identity is shaped by his:

  1. Indian heritage

  2. American upbringing

  3. Family relationships

  4. Religious beliefs
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
Correct answer
Explanation

Gogol's identity is a complex blend of his Indian heritage and his experiences growing up in America, leading to a sense of cultural and generational conflict.

Multiple choice

In the novel 'The Kite Runner' by Khaled Hosseini, the protagonist Amir's relationship with his father is strained due to:

  1. Their different religious beliefs

  2. Amir's academic struggles

  3. Amir's friendship with Hassan

  4. Amir's decision to leave Afghanistan
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Amir's father disapproves of his friendship with Hassan, a Hazara boy, due to the social and ethnic divisions that exist in Afghan society.

Multiple choice

Which novel by Mulk Raj Anand explores the theme of caste and untouchability?

  1. Untouchable

  2. Coolie

  3. Two Leaves and a Bud

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

Mulk Raj Anand's novel "Untouchable" delves into the life of Bakha, an untouchable boy, and his experiences of discrimination and oppression due to his caste.