General Awareness ยท English Language

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 is known for his satirical writings and the creation of the fictional town of Malgudi?

  1. R. K. Narayan

  2. Raja Rao

  3. Mulk Raj Anand

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

R. K. Narayan is renowned for his humorous and insightful portrayal of Indian life in his fictional town of Malgudi. His works, such as 'Swami and Friends' and 'The Guide', have gained international acclaim.

Multiple choice

Who is considered one of the pioneers of the Indian English novel?

  1. Raja Rao

  2. Mulk Raj Anand

  3. R. K. Narayan

  4. Kamala Markandaya
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Mulk Raj Anand is credited as one of the pioneers of the Indian English novel. His works, such as 'Untouchable' and 'Coolie', explored social and political issues faced by marginalized communities in India.

Multiple choice

Which Indian author's work 'Midnight's Children' won the Booker Prize in 1981?

  1. Salman Rushdie

  2. Arundhati Roy

  3. Vikram Seth

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

Salman Rushdie's novel 'Midnight's Children' won the prestigious Booker Prize in 1981. The novel is a magical realism masterpiece that intertwines Indian history with the lives of children born at the stroke of midnight on India's independence day.

Multiple choice

Which Indian author's novel 'The God of Small Things' won the Booker Prize in 1997?

  1. Salman Rushdie

  2. Arundhati Roy

  3. Vikram Seth

  4. Anita Desai
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Arundhati Roy's novel 'The God of Small Things' won the Booker Prize in 1997. The novel explores the themes of love, loss, and the complexities of family relationships in rural Kerala.

Multiple choice

Which Indian author's novel 'A Suitable Boy' was shortlisted for the Booker Prize in 1993?

  1. Salman Rushdie

  2. Arundhati Roy

  3. Vikram Seth

  4. Anita Desai
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Vikram Seth's novel 'A Suitable Boy' was shortlisted for the Booker Prize in 1993. The novel is a sweeping saga that follows the lives of four families in post-independence India.

Multiple choice

Which Indian author's novel 'Clear Light of Day' won the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1980?

  1. Anita Desai

  2. Kamala Markandaya

  3. Nayantara Sahgal

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

Anita Desai's novel 'Clear Light of Day' won the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1980. The novel explores the themes of identity, loss, and the complexities of familial relationships.

Multiple choice

Which Indian author's novel 'The Inheritance of Loss' won the Sahitya Akademi Award in 2006?

  1. Kiran Desai

  2. Arundhati Roy

  3. Anita Desai

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

Kiran Desai's novel 'The Inheritance of Loss' won the Sahitya Akademi Award in 2006. The novel follows the lives of two families, one Indian and one American, as they navigate the challenges of globalization and cultural differences.

Multiple choice

Which Indian author's novel 'The White Tiger' won the Man Booker Prize in 2008?

  1. Aravind Adiga

  2. Vikram Seth

  3. Salman Rushdie

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

Aravind Adiga's novel 'The White Tiger' won the Man Booker Prize in 2008. The novel is a satirical take on the class divide and corruption in modern India.

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. Arundhati Roy

  3. Jhumpa Lahiri

  4. Anita Desai
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. The novel retells the story of the Mahabharata from the perspective of Draupadi.

Multiple choice

Which Indian author's novel 'The Lowland' was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize in 2013?

  1. Jhumpa Lahiri

  2. Aravind Adiga

  3. Salman Rushdie

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

Jhumpa Lahiri's novel 'The Lowland' was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize in 2013. The novel follows the lives of two brothers in post-independence India and their struggles with love, loss, and political turmoil.

Multiple choice

Which Indian author's novel 'The Hungry Tide' was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize in 2006?

  1. Amitav Ghosh

  2. Salman Rushdie

  3. Arundhati Roy

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

Amitav Ghosh's novel 'The Hungry Tide' was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize in 2006. The novel explores the themes of environmental degradation and cultural conflict in the Sundarbans region of India.

Multiple choice

Which Indian author's novel 'The Shadow Lines' won the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1989?

  1. Amitav Ghosh

  2. Salman Rushdie

  3. Arundhati Roy

  4. Vikram Seth
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. The novel explores the themes of identity, displacement, and the legacy of colonialism in India.

Multiple choice

Who is known for his paintings of rural India?

  1. Raja Ravi Varma

  2. M.F. Husain

  3. Jamini Roy

  4. Amrita Sher-Gil
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Jamini Roy is known for his paintings of rural India. His work is known for its simple style and its depiction of the everyday life of the Indian people.

Multiple choice

Who is known for his paintings of urban India?

  1. Raja Ravi Varma

  2. M.F. Husain

  3. Jamini Roy

  4. Amrita Sher-Gil
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

M.F. Husain is known for his paintings of urban India. His work is known for its vibrant colors and its depiction of the hustle and bustle of city life.

Multiple choice

Who is known for his paintings of landscapes?

  1. Raja Ravi Varma

  2. M.F. Husain

  3. Jamini Roy

  4. Amrita Sher-Gil
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Jamini Roy is known for his paintings of landscapes. His work is known for its simple style and its depiction of the beauty of the Indian countryside.