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India has produced several celebrated writers who have made a mark in English literature. From the thought-provoking works of Salman Rushdie and Arundhati Roy to the captivating narratives of Jhumpa Lahiri and Vikram Seth, these authors have gained global recognition. In this blog, we’ll explore the lives and contributions of famous English authors in India whose stories continue to inspire readers across generations and cultural boundaries.
This Blog Includes:
Famous English authors in India have written impactful stories about Indian life, culture, and history. Apart from understanding English literature Their written works help readers enjoy and understand English literature
| Name of Author | Type of Writer |
| R.K. Narayan | Postcolonial fiction writer celebrated for exploring themes of migration, identity, politics, and culture. |
| Mulk Raj Anand | A writer of social realism who highlighted issues like poverty and caste discrimination in Indian society. |
| Salman Rushdie | Postcolonial fiction writer celebrated for exploring themes of migration, identity, politics, and culture. |
| Arundhati Roy | Literary fiction writer known for blending lyrical prose with strong political commentary. |
| Chetan Bhagat | A contemporary fiction writer who focused on urban youth, using simple language and relatable stories. |
| Amish Tripathi | A mythological fiction writer who retells ancient Indian epics in a modern, engaging style. |
| Ruskin Bond | A children’s fiction writer whose gentle, nostalgic stories reflect nature, hill life, and simple joys. |
| Sudha Murty | A cultural and children’s fiction writer who imparts moral values through heartwarming and meaningful stories. |
| Shashi Tharoor | Political and historical non-fiction writer offering deep insights into colonialism, Indian politics, and society. |
| Ramachandra Guha | Historian and non-fiction writer known for detailed work on Indian history, environment, and biography. |
Here is a list of 10 famous authors in India, their renowned work, and key achievements and prizes.
1. R.K. Narayan
Rasipuram Krishnaswami Iyer Narayanswami was a popular Indian writer who was popularly known for creating the fictional town of Malgudi and its memorable characters. He portrayed the life of the Indian middle class and gave readers humor and simplicity. His work helped in establishing Indian writing in English fiction literature. For his notable work, R.K. Narayan received the Padma Vibhushan and the Sahitya Akademi Award for his incredible work in Indian literature.
| List of Popular Works | Achievements and Prizes |
| Swami and Friends (1935) and The Bachelor of Arts (1937) | Sahitya Akademi Award (1960) |
| The English Teacher (1945) and The Guide (1958) | Padma Bhushan (1964) |
| Malgudi Days and The Man-Eater of Malgudi (1961) | AC Benson Medal by the Royal Society of Literature (1980) |
| The Vendor of Sweets (1967) | Padma Vibhushan (2000) |
2. Mulk Raj Anand
Mulk Raj Anand was among the writers who raised their voice against social injustice in India. Through his writing, Mulk Raj Anand highlighted the harsh realities of poverty and caste discrimination. Further, his writing, which is also a reflection of generosity and facts, helps the readers connect with the real-time problems of society. For his incredible and renowned writing, Mulk Raj Anand was also awarded India’s prestigious Padma Bhushan and International Peace Prize.
| List of Popular Works | Achievements and Prizes |
| Untouchable (1935) and Coolie (1936) | International Peace Prize (1953) |
| Two Leaves and a Bud (1937) and The Big Heart (1945) | Padma Bhushan (1968) |
| The Private Life of an Indian Prince (1953) | Sahitya Akademi Award (1971) |
3. Salman Rushdie
Salman Rushdie is a well-known English author in India who is celebrated for his bold and imaginative style of writing. His writing explores themes of migration, identity, politics, and culture. He received the Booker Prize for his book Midnight’s Children and was given a knighthood for his writing work.
| List of Popular Works | Achievements and Prizes |
| Midnight’s Children (1981) and Shame (1983) | Booker Prize (1981) |
| The Satanic Verses (1988) and The Moor’s Last Sigh (1995) | The Booker of Bookers (1993) and The Best of the Booker (2008) |
| The Ground Beneath Her Feet (1999) | Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (France, 1999) |
| Quichotte (2019) | Knighthood for services to literature (UK, 2007) |
| Victory City (2023) | PEN Pinter Prize (2022) |
| Knife: Meditations After an Attempted Murder (2024) | German Publishers and Booksellers Association Peace Prize (2023) |
4. Arundhati Roy
Arundhati Roy, a female writer who is popularly known for combining lyrical prose and political opinions. Her debut novel, ‘The God of Small Things’, won the Booker Prize and kept her point of view through writing essays on contemporary social issues. In 2006, Arundhati Roy was honoured with the Sahitya Akademi Award by the National Academy of Letters in India, and in 2024, she won the PEN Pinter Prize.
| List of Popular Works | Achievements and Prizes |
| The God of Small Things (1997) | Booker Prize (1997) for The God of Small Things |
| The Ministry of Utmost Happiness (2017) | Booker Prize (1997) for The God of Small Things |
| An Ordinary Person’s Guide to Empire (non-fiction) | Sydney Peace Prize (2004) |
| Capitalism: A Ghost Story (non-fiction) | Orwell Award (2004) |
| Azadi: Freedom. Fascism. Fiction. (2020) | Norman Mailer Prize for Distinguished Writing (2011) |
| Mother Mary Comes To Me (forthcoming, 2025) | PEN Pinter Prize (2024) |
5. Chetan Bhagat
Chetan Bhagat is one of the most renowned writers in India. He is the author who is one of the most read contemporary writers. He is popularly known for writing about young urban India and using simple language and related stories. His written books have been adapted into successful movies and he was one of the writers who was included in the Times’ magazine list of 100 most influential people in the world in the year 2010.
| List of Popular Works | Achievements and Prizes |
| Five Point Someone (2004) and One Night @ the Call Centre (2005) | Recognised as Best outgoing student” by IIM Ahmedabad (1997) |
| 2 States: The Story of My Marriage (2009) and Revolution 2020 (2011) | Society Young Achievers Award (2000) |
| Half Girlfriend (2014) and One Indian Girl (2016) | Publisher’s Recognition Award (2005) |
| The Girl in Room 105 (2018) and 400 Days (2021) | Included in Time magazine’s list of the World’s 100 Most Influential People (2010) in the Artists category |
6. Amish Tripathi
Amish Tripathi is a famous Indian author who is well-known for bringing ancient myths and epics into real life through his modern style of writing and telling stories. Through his traditional writing, Amish has redefined the mythological fiction of India. His unique style of writing has made him one of the most influential writers in India. His selection as an Eisenhower Fellow in the year 2014 reflected his commitment to contributing to Indian culture.
| List of Popular Works | Achievements and Prizes |
| The Immortals of Meluha (2010) | Raymond Crossword Book Award (Popular Fiction), 2016 for Ram: Scion of Ikshvaku |
| The Secret of the Nagas (2011) | Dainik Bhaskar Literature Award (2016) |
| The Oath of the Vayuputras (2013) | Forbes India Celebrity 100 (2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017 & 2018) |
7. Ruskin Bond
Ruskin Bond is a beloved Indian author whose stories bring alive the beauty and simplicity of Mussoorie, hill life, and childhood memories. His sweet, gentle, and heartwarming tales have earned him the prestigious Sahitya Akademi Award and the Padma Bhushan in 1992 and 2014, respectively, for his lifelong contribution to literature.
| List of Popular Works | Achievements and Prizes |
| The Room on the Roof (1956) | John Llewellyn Rhys Prize (1957) for The Room on the Roof |
| Our Trees Still Grow in Dehra (1991) | Sahitya Akademi Award (1992) for Our Trees Still Grow in Dehra |
| The Blue Umbrella (1980) and A Flight of Pigeons (1978) | Padma Shri (1999) |
| Granny’s Tree Climbing | Bal Sahitya Puraskar (2012) by the Sahitya Akademi for his contribution to children’s literature |
| Angry River | Padma Bhushan (2014) |
8. Sudha Murty
Sudha Murty is one of the famous Indian educators and philanthropists of India. Her,e heartwarming stories teach life lessons and moral values of life. She is popular among children and adults, writing for the culture of India, stories, and real-life experiences. She received the Padma Bhushan and the Sahitya Akademi Bal Sahitya Puraskar for her work in literature and social services in 2023.
| List of Popular Works | Achievements and Prizes |
| How I Taught My Grandmother to Read and Other Stories, The Magic of the Lost Temple and Grandma’s Bag of Stories | Padma Shri (2006) for social work |
| The Gopi Diaries, Wise and Otherwise and Three Thousand Stitches | R.K. Narayan Award for Literature (2006) |
| Dollar Bahu, Mahashweta | Crossword Book Award (2018) for The Upside-Down King |
| The Serpent’s Revenge | Padma Bhushan (2023), India’s third-highest civilian award |
| The Daughter from a Wishing Tree | Sahitya Akademi Bal Sahitya Puraskar (2023) for Grandparents’ Bag of Stories |
9. Shashi Tharoor
Shashi Tharoor is one of the most popular English-language authors, renowned for his intellectual depth and engaging storytelling. He is a popular former UN diplomat, is widely recognised for his work on Indian politics, colonial history, and global affairs. He was awarded the Sahitya Akademi Award in 2019 for An Era of Darkness. He has also received France’s highest civilian international honour, the Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur.
| List of Popular Works | Achievements and Prizes |
| The Great Indian Novel (1989), Satirical retelling of the Mahabharata, India: From Midnight to the Millennium (1997)And Nehru: The Invention of India (2003) | Commonwealth Writers’ Prize (1991) for The Great Indian Novel |
| The Elephant, the Tiger, and the Cell Phone: Reflections on India, the Emerging 21st-Century Power (2007), Pax Indica: India and the World of the 21st Century (2012), and An Era of Darkness: The British Empire in India (2016) (Published as Inglorious Empire: What the British Did to India internationally) | First Sree Narayan Guru Global Secular and Peace Award (2013) |
| Why I Am a Hindu (2018), The Paradoxical Prime Minister (2018) | Sahitya Akademi Award (2019) for An Era of Darkness: The British Empire in India |
| The Battle of Belonging (2020) | Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur (France, 2010) |
| Pride, Prejudice and Punditry (2021) | King Carlos I of Spain Order of Merit (2009) |
10. Ramachandra Guha
Ramachandra Guha is a respected historian and English author of India. His work provides deep insights into the political and social history of India. He has received the Padma Bhushan award in the year 2009 and the Infosys Prize in Humanities for his contributions to historical research and writing in the year 2012.
| List of Popular Works | Achievements and Prizes |
| The Unquiet Woods: Ecological Change and Peasant Resistance in the Himalaya (1989) and An Anthropologist Among the Marxists and Other Essays (2001) | Leopold-Hidy Prize of the American Society for Environmental History (2001) for his essay Prehistory of Community Forestry in India |
A Corner of a Foreign Field: The Indian History of a British Sport (2002) and India After Gandhi: The History of the World’s Largest Democracy (2007) | Daily Telegraph Cricket Society Book of the Year prize (2002) for A Corner of a Foreign Field |
| Gandhi Before India (2013) and Gandhi: The Years That Changed the World (2018) | Padma Bhushan (2009) |
| Democrats and Dissenters (2016) and The Commonwealth of Cricket: A Lifelong Love Affair with the Game (2020) | Infosys Prize in Humanities (2015) |
| Rebels Against the Raj: Western Fighters for India’s Freedom (2022) | Foreign Honorary Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (2019) |
| Speaking with Nature: The Origins of Indian Environmentalism (latest mentioned) | Elected as a Corresponding Fellow of the British Academy (2020) |
Thus, this was the ‘Top 10 Famous English Authors in India’ that has strengthened the literature by writing impactful stories. These writings reflect Indian culture, society, and history. Their popular work continues to inspire readers and influence modern English writing across the generations and the globe.
FAQs
Ans. R.K. Narayan is widely known as the most famous English writer in India for his timeless stories set in the fictional town of Malgudi.
Ans. The 10 famous English authors in India are R.K. Narayan, Mulk Raj Anand, Salman Rushdie, Arundhati Roy, Chetan Bhagat, Amish Tripathi, Ruskin Bond, Sudha Murty, Shashi Tharoor, and Ramachandra Guha.
Ans. As of now, Abhijita Gupta is considered India’s youngest published author. She released her first book at the age of 7.
Ans. Shakuntala Choudhary made headlines as a 92-year-old first-time author for her autobiography, inspiring readers with her life story.
Ans. Dean Mahomed is considered the first Indian to publish a book in English. His work, The Travels of Dean Mahomet, came out in 1794 in England.
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