Anita Desai: Novels and Short Stories

Anita Desai

• Desai is an Indian novelist and short story writer.
• Novels:
  • Cry, the Peacock (1963)
  • Voices in the City (1965)
  • Bye-Bye, Blackbird (1969)
  • Where Shall We Go This Summer? (1975)
  • Fire on the Mountain (1977) won the Sahitya Akademi Award
  • Games at Twilight and Other Stories (1978) is a short story collection.
  • Clear Light of Day (1980)
  • The Village by the Sea (1982) won the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize
  • In Custody (1984) was Shortlisted for the Booker Prize
  • Baumgartner's Bombay (1988)
  • Journey to Ithaca (1995)
  • Fasting, Feasting (1999) was Shortlisted for the Booker Prize
  • The Zigzag Way (2004)
• Children's Books:
  • The Village by the Sea (1982)
  • The Peacock Garden (1974)
• Other Works:
  • Diamond Dust and Other Stories (2000) is a short story collection
  • Artist of Disappearance (2011) is a novella collection

Arundhati Roy

• Roy is an Indian author and activist known for her fiction and non-fiction works.
• Fiction:
  • The God of Small Things (1997) won the Booker Prize and is about a family in Kerala.
  • The Ministry of Utmost Happiness (2017) explores India's social and political landscape.
• Non-Fiction:
  • The Cost of Living (1999) includes essays on India's Narmada dam project and privatization.
  • Power Politics (2001) includes essays on globalization and corporate power.
  • War Talk (2003) includes essays on war, nationalism, and democracy.
  • An Ordinary Person's Guide to Empire (2004) critiques global imperialism.
  • Public Power in the Age of Empire (2004) is based on her speech on imperialism.
  • Field Notes on Democracy: Listening to Grasshoppers (2009) includes essays on India's democracy.
  • Broken Republic: Three Essays (2011) is about resistance movements in India.
  • Capitalism: A Ghost Story (2014) critiques capitalism in India.
  • Things That Can and Cannot Be Said (2016) was co-authored with John Cusack on politics and power.
  • My Seditious Heart (2019) is a collection of her non-fiction writings.
  • Azadi: Freedom. Fascism. Fiction. (2020) includes essays on nationalism and dissent.

Amitav Ghosh

• Ghosh is an acclaimed Indian author who has written several novels, essays, and non-fiction works.
• Novels:
  • The Circle of Reason (1986)
  • The Shadow Lines (1988)
  • The Calcutta Chromosome (1995) won the Arthur C. Clarke Award
  • The Glass Palace (2000)
  • The Hungry Tide (2004)
  • The Ibis Trilogy:
    • Sea of Poppies (2008) was Shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize
    • River of Smoke (2011)
    • Flood of Fire (2015)
  • Gun Island (2019)
• Non-fiction:
  • In an Antique Land (1992)
  • Dancing in Cambodia and at Large in Burma (1998)
  • Countdown (1999)
  • The Imam and the Indian (2002)
  • The Great Derangement: Climate Change and the Unthinkable (2016)
  • Jungle Nama: A Story of the Sundarbans (2021) is a verse adaptation
  • The Nutmeg's Curse: Parables for a Planet in Crisis (2021)
• Poetry:
  • Jungle Nama: A Story of the Sundarban (2021)
• Ghosh's Ibis Trilogy (Sea of Poppies, River of Smoke, and Flood of Fire) delves into the opium trade and its impact on India and China in the 19th century.

A.K. Ramanujan

• Ramanujan was a renowned Indian poet, translator, linguist, and scholar.
• Works included poetry, translations, folklore studies, and essays.
• Poetry:
  • The Striders (1966)
  • Relations (1971)
  • Second Sight (1986)
  • The Black Hen (published posthumously, 1995)
• Translations:
  • Speaking of Śiva (1973) includes translations of 12th-century Kannada vachanas
  • Hymns for the Drowning (1981) includes translations of Tamil poems by Nammalvar
  • Poems of Love and War (1985) includes translations from classical Tamil Sangam poetry
  • A Flowering Tree and Other Oral Tales from India (1997, posthumous) is a collection of folktales
• Essays and Scholarly Works:
  • Folktales from India: A Selection of Oral Tales from Twenty-Two Languages (1991)
  • The Interior Landscape: Classical Tamil Love Poems (1967)
  • Three Hundred Ramayanas: Five Examples and Three Thoughts on Translation (1987) is an essay discussing different versions of the Ramayana
  • Collected Essays of A.K. Ramanujan (1999, posthumous)

Bankim Chandra Chatterjee

• Chatterjee (1838–1894) was a Bengali writer, poet, and journalist, best known for his novel Anandamath.
• Anandamath includes the song Vande Mataram.
• Novels:
  • Durgeshnandini (1865) is his first Bengali novel, a historical romance.
  • Kapalkundala (1866) is a popular novel inspired by a tragic love story.
  • Mrinalini (1869) is a historical romance novel.
  • Vishabriksha (1873) is considered the first social novel in Bengali.
  • Indira (1873) focuses on domestic life.
  • Jugalanguriya (1874) is a short novel.
  • Radharani (1876) is about love and sacrifice.
  • Chandrasekhar (1877) has historical and spiritual themes.
  • Rajani (1877) has a philosophical tone.
  • Krishnakanter Will (1878) is a social novel with a tragic storyline.
  • Rajsimha (1881) is a historical novel.
  • Anandamath (1882) features Vande Mataram and centered on the Sannyasi Rebellion.
  • Devi Chaudhurani (1884) is about a female leader in the rebellion against British rule.
  • Sitaram (1886) is his last novel, based on Hindu nationalist themes.
• Other Works:
  • Kamalakanter Daptar (1875) is a collection of satirical essays.
  • Kamalakanter Jabab (1882) is a sequel to Kamalakanter Daptar.
  • Lok Rahasya (1874) is a collection of essays.
  • Krishna Charitra (1886) is a biography and analysis of Lord Krishna.
  • Dharmatattva (1888) is a philosophical and religious work.
  • Srimadbhagavadgita (Commentary) is a study and translation of the Bhagavad Gita.
• Chatterjee's works played a role in inspiring the Indian freedom movement and shaping Bengali literature.

Mulk Raj Anand

• Anand was a pioneering Indian writer in English, known for depicting the lives of the oppressed and marginalized in Indian society.
• Novels:
  • Untouchable (1935) explores the life of a Dalit boy named Bakha.
  • Coolie (1936) is about a young laborer, Munoo, and his struggles in colonial India.
  • Two Leaves and a Bud (1937) is about the exploitation of workers on a tea plantation.
  • The Village (1939) is the first book in a trilogy depicting rural Punjab.
  • Across the Black Waters (1940) is the second part of the trilogy, about Indian soldiers in World War I.
  • The Sword and the Sickle (1942) concludes the trilogy and deals with post-war political movements.
  • The Big Heart (1945) is about artisans in India's changing economy.
  • Seven Summers (1951) is a semi-autobiographical novel.
  • Private Life of an Indian Prince (1953) explores the decline of Indian princely states.
  • The Road (1961) focuses on caste discrimination and infrastructure development.
• Short Story Collections:
  • The Barber's Trade Union and Other Stories (1944)
  • The Tractor and the Corn Goddess and Other Stories (1947)
  • Reflections on the Golden Bed and Other Stories (1953)
  • Lajwanti and Other Stories (1966)
• Essays and Other Works:
  • Apology for Heroism (1946) is a work on literature and society.
  • The Old Woman and the Cow (1960) was later republished as Gauri.
  • Tales Told by an Idiot (1978) is autobiographical fiction.
• Anand's writings were influenced by social realism, Gandhian principles, and his Marxist worldview.

V. S. Naipaul

• Naipaul was a Trinidadian-British writer and Nobel Laureate who wrote extensively across fiction and non-fiction.
• Novels:
  • The Mystic Masseur (1957)
  • The Suffrage of Elvira (1958)
  • Miguel Street (1959)
  • A House for Mr Biswas (1961)
  • Mr. Stone and the Knights Companion (1963)
  • The Mimic Men (1967)
  • In a Free State (1971) won the Booker Prize
  • Guerrillas (1975)
  • A Bend in the River (1979)
  • The Enigma of Arrival (1987)
  • A Way in the World (1994)
  • Half a Life (2001)
  • Magic Seeds (2004)
• Non-Fiction:
  • The Middle Passage (1962)
  • An Area of Darkness (1964)
  • The Loss of El Dorado (1969)
  • India: A Wounded Civilization (1977)
  • A Congo Diary (1980)
  • The Return of Eva Perón and the Killings in Trinidad (1980)
  • Among the Believers: An Islamic Journey (1981)
  • Finding the Centre (1984)
  • A Turn in the South (1989)
  • India: A Million Mutinies Now (1990)
  • Beyond Belief: Islamic Excursions Among the Converted Peoples (1998)
  • The Writer and the World (2002)
  • A Writer's People: Ways of Looking and Feeling (2007)

Shashi Tharoor

• Tharoor is an Indian author and politician known for his literary contributions.
• The Great Indian Novel (1989) is a satirical retelling of the Mahabharata set in Indian politics.
• The Five Dollar Smile and Other Stories (1990) is a collection of short stories.
• Show Business (1992) is a satirical novel about Bollywood and fame.
• India: From Midnight to the Millennium and Beyond (1997) analyzes India's journey post-independence.
• Nehru: The Invention of India (2003) is a biography of Jawaharlal Nehru.
• Bookless in Baghdad (2005) contains essays on literature, politics, and culture.
• The Elephant, the Tiger, and the Cell Phone (2007) reflects on India's growth in the 21st century.
• Pax Indica: India and the World of the 21st Century (2012) provides insights into India's foreign policy.
• India Shastra: Reflections on the Nation in Our Time (2015) is a collection of essays on contemporary India.
• An Era of Darkness: The British Empire in India (2016) critiques British colonial rule in India.
• Why I Am a Hindu (2018) explores Hinduism and its relevance today.
• The Paradoxical Prime Minister (2018) critically analyzes Narendra Modi's leadership.
• The Hindu Way: An Introduction to Hinduism (2019) delves deeper into Hindu philosophy, following up on Why I Am a Hindu.
• The Battle of Belonging (2020) discusses nationalism, identity, and citizenship in India.
• Pride, Prejudice and Punditry (2021) compiles essays and speeches on diverse topics.
• Ambedkar: A Life (2022) is a biography of B.R. Ambedkar and focuses on his fight against caste discrimination.
• Inglorious Empire: What the British Did to India is the UK edition of An Era of Darkness.

Shashi Deshpande

• Deshpande is renowned for works exploring themes of gender, family, identity, and the struggles of women in Indian society.
• Novels:
  • The Dark Holds No Terrors (1980)
  • If I Die Today (1982)
  • Come Up and Be Dead (1983)
  • Roots and Shadows (1983)
  • That Long Silence (1988) won the Sahitya Akademi Award
  • The Binding Vine (1992)
  • A Matter of Time (1996)
  • Small Remedies (2000)
  • Moving On (2004)
  • In the Country of Deceit (2008)
  • Ships That Pass (2012)
  • Shadow Play (2013) (Part of a Trilogy)
  • Strangers to Ourselves (2015)
• Short Story Collections:
  • The Legacy and Other Stories (1978)
  • It Was Dark (1986)
  • The Intrusion and Other Stories (1993)
  • Small Remedies (2000)
  • Collected Stories (2003)
• Children's Books:
  • The Narayanpur Incident (1982)
  • A Summer Adventure (1983)
  • The Hidden Treasure (1985)
  • The Only Witness (1991)
• Essays and Non-Fiction:
  • Writing from the Margin and Other Essays (2003)
  • Listen to Me (2018)
• Her works primarily focus on the inner world of Indian women, dealing with their emotions, aspirations, and societal challenges.

Khushwant Singh

• Singh was a prolific Indian author, journalist, and historian whose works span fiction, history, and social commentary.
• Novels:
  • Train to Pakistan (1956)
  • I Shall Not Hear the Nightingale (1959)
  • Delhi: A Novel (1990)
  • The Company of Women (1999)
  • Burial at Sea (2004)
  • The Sunset Club (2010)
• Short Story Collections:
  • The Mark of Vishnu and Other Stories (1950)
  • A Bride for the Sahib and Other Stories (1967)
  • Black Jasmine (1971)
• History & Non-Fiction:
  • A History of Sikhs (2 Volumes, 1963–1966)
  • Ranjit Singh: The Maharaja of the Punjab (1962)
  • The Sikhs Today (1959)
  • India: An Introduction (1990)
  • The Illustrated History of the Sikhs (2006)
• Autobiographical & Memoirs:
  • Truth, Love & a Little Malice (2002)
• Humor & Essays:
  • The Fall of the Kingdom of Punjab (1962)
  • Not a Nice Man to Know: The Best of Khushwant Singh (1993)
  • Khushwant Singh's Joke Book (Multiple Volumes)
  • Why I Supported the Emergency (2004)
  • Khushwantnama: The Lessons of My Life (2013)

Nissim Ezekiel

• Ezekiel was an Indian poet, playwright, essayist, and art critic whose works played a key role in modern Indian English poetry.
• Poetry Collections:
  • A Time to Change (1952)
  • Sixty Poems (1953)
  • The Third (1959)
  • The Unfinished Man (1960)
  • The Exact Name (1965)
  • Hymns in Darkness (1976)
  • Latter-Day Psalms (1982)
  • Collected Poems 1952-1988 (1992)
• Plays:
  • Nalini: A Play in Three Acts (1978)
  • Marriage Poem (1960)
  • The Sleepwalkers (1952)
  • Who Needs No Introduction
• Essays and Criticism:
  • Ezekiel wrote extensively on art, literature, and society in India, contributing essays and reviews in various journals, including critiques on Indian writing in English.
• His poems include Enterprise, Night of the Scorpion, Goodbye Party for Miss Pushpa T.S., and Poet, Lover, Birdwatcher.

Jayanta Mahapatra

• Mahapatra (1928–2023) explored themes of identity, history, mythology, and personal introspection.
• Poetry Collections:
  • Svayamvara and Other Poems (1971)
  • Close the Sky, Ten by Ten (1971)
  • A Rain of Rites (1976)
  • Waiting (1979)
  • The False Start (1980)
  • Relationship (1980) won the Sahitya Akademi Award
  • Life Signs (1983)
  • Dispossessed Nests (1986)
  • Selected Poems (1987)
  • Burden of Waves and Fruit (1988)
  • Temple (1989)
  • Shadow Space (1997)
  • Bare Face (2000)
  • Random Descent (2005)
  • The Lie of Dawns: Poems 1974–2008 (2009)
  • Sky Without Sky (2016)
• Prose & Other Works:
  • Door of Paper: Essays and Memoirs (2007)
• Mahapatra was the first Indian poet writing in English to receive the Sahitya Akademi Award. His poetry is rooted in Indian culture and traditions, especially landscapes and history of Odisha.

Toru Dutt

• Dutt (1856–1877) wrote in English and French and contributed significantly to Indian literature.
• Poetry:
  • A Sheaf Gleaned in French Fields (1876) translates French poetry into English.
  • Ancient Ballads and Legends of Hindustan (1882, posthumously) is a collection of poems based on Indian mythology and history.
• Novels:
  • Bianca, or The Young Spanish Maiden (1878, posthumously) is written in English and set in Spain.
  • Le Journal de Mademoiselle d'Arvers (1879, posthumously) is written in French and considered one of the first novels by an Indian woman in French.

Raja Rao

• Rao (1908–2006) explored themes of Indian spirituality, philosophy, and independence.
• Novels:
  • Kanthapura (1938) is a classic novel about India's independence movement from a village perspective.
  • The Serpent and the Rope (1960) is a semi-autobiographical novel about philosophy, identity, and East-West encounters.
  • The Cat and Shakespeare: A Tale of India (1965) is a metaphysical comedy exploring Indian philosophy.
  • Comrade Kirillov (1976) is a political novel set against the backdrop of revolution and communism.
  • The Chessmaster and His Moves (1988) blends philosophy, history, and existentialism.
  • On the Ganga Ghat (1989) explores spiritual themes
• Short Story Collections:
  • The Cow of the Barricades and Other Stories (1947) reflects Indian traditions and the freedom movement.
  • Selected Works of Raja Rao (1999) compiles his best stories and excerpts from his novels.
• Essays and Non-Fiction:
  • The Meaning of India (1996) focuses on Indian philosophy, history, and culture.
  • The Writer and the Word: Selected Essays (1998) focuses on literature, philosophy, and writing.

Manohar Malgonkar

• Malgonkar focused on historical fiction, espionage, and adventure.
• Novels:
  • Distant Drum (1960)
  • Combat of Shadows (1962)
  • The Princes (1963)
  • A Bend in the Ganges (1964)
  • Spy in Amber (1971)
  • The Devil's Wind (1972) is based on the life of Nana Saheb Peshwa
  • Shalimar (1978)
• Short Story Collections:
  • A Teller of Tales (1986)
  • Cactus Country (2009)
• Non-Fiction:
  • Puars of Dewas Senior (1963)
  • Chhatrapatis of Kolhapur (1971)
  • Dropping Names (1995) - Memoirs
• Works focus on India's colonial past, independence movement, and themes of war and espionage.

R.K. Narayan

• Narayan (1906–2001) wrote simple yet profound stories set in the fictional town of Malgudi.
• Works depict the lives of ordinary people in South India.
• Novels:
  • Swami and Friends (1935)
  • The Bachelor of Arts (1937)
  • The Dark Room (1938)
  • The English Teacher (1945)
  • Mr. Sampath (1949)
  • The Financial Expert (1952)
  • Waiting for the Mahatma (1955)
  • The Guide (1958) won the Sahitya Akademi Award
  • The Man-Eater of Malgudi (1961)
  • The Vendor of Sweets (1967)
  • The Painter of Signs (1976)
  • A Tiger for Malgudi (1983)
  • Talkative Man (1986)
  • The World of Nagaraj (1990)
  • Grandmother's Tale (1992)
• Short Story Collections:
  • Malgudi Days (1943)
  • An Astrologer's Day and Other Stories (1947)
  • Lawley Road and Other Stories (1956)
  • A Horse and Two Goats (1970)
  • Under the Banyan Tree and Other Stories (1985)
• Non-Fiction:
  • Next Sunday (1960)
  • My Dateless Diary (1960)
  • Reluctant Guru (1974)
  • The Emerald Route (1980)
  • A Writer's Nightmare (1988)
  • The Writerly Life (2002) is a collection of essays.
• Memoirs & Autobiography:
  • My Days (1974)

Ruskin Bond

• Bond has written extensively across multiple genres, including novels, short stories, essays, and children's books.
• Novels & Novellas:
  • The Room on the Roof (1956) is Bond's first novel, based on his own experiences as a teenager.
  • Vagrants in the Valley (1957) is a sequel to The Room on the Roof.
  • Delhi Is Not Far (1994)
  • A Flight of Pigeons (1978) is a historical novella adapted into the film Junoon.
  • The Sensualist (1977)
  • The Blue Umbrella (1980) was adapted into a popular Bollywood film.
  • A Handful of Nuts (1998)
  • Rusty Runs Away (2001)
  • Rusty and the Magic Mountain (2015)
• Short Story Collections:
  • Time Stops at Shamli and Other Stories
  • Our Trees Still Grow in Dehra won the Sahitya Akademi Award.
  • Night Train at Deoli and Other Stories
  • The Woman on Platform 8 and Other Stories
  • Death Under the Deodars: The Adventures of Miss Ripley-Bean
  • A Face in the Dark and Other Hauntings are ghost stories.
• Children's Books:
  • The Hidden Pool
  • The Cherry Tree
  • Grandfather's Private Zoo
  • Thick as Thieves: Tales of Friendship
  • White Mice
• Autobiographical & Non-Fiction Works:
  • Scenes from a Writer's Life is a memoir about his early years.
  • Lone Fox Dancingis a full-length autobiography.
  • Looking for the Rainbow: My Years with Daddy
  • A Book of Simple Living: Brief Notes from the Hills
  • Tales of the Open Road
• Poetry:
  • Collected Poems
  • Hip Hop Nature Boy and Other Poems
• He has also written numerous essays and travelogues that reflect his love for nature and life in the hills of India.

Kamala Das

• Das, also known as Madhavikutty was a poet, short story writer, and autobiographer.
• Poetry Collections:
  • Summer in Calcutta (1965)
  • The Descendants (1967)
  • The Old Playhouse and Other Poems (1973)
  • Collected Poems (1984)
  • Only the Soul Knows How to Sing (1996)
• Autobiography:
  • My Story (1976) is a memoir
• Short Story Collections (English and Malayalam):
  • Padmavati the Harlot and Other Stories (1992)
  • The Sandal Trees and Other Stories
• Novels & Other Prose Works:
  • Alphabet of Lust (1977)
  • A Doll for the Child Prostitute
  • The Kept Woman and Other Stories
• Malayalam Writings (under the name Madhavikutty):
  • Balyakala Smaranakal (Childhood Memories)
  • Ente Katha (My Story – Malayalam version)
  • Neermathalam Pootha Kalam
  • Chandana Marangal
  • Nashtapetta Neelambari
• Das also wrote essays and columns on social, political, and personal themes.

Sarojini Naidu

• Naidu, known as the "Nightingale of India" was a poet and freedom fighter.
• Poetry Collections:
  • The Golden Threshold (1905) was her first collection of poems, with an introduction by Arthur Symons.
  • The Bird of Time: Songs of Life, Death & the Spring (1912) reflects her Indian heritage and nationalist sentiments.
  • The Broken Wing: Songs of Love, Death and the Spring (1917) includes her famous poem The Gift of India.
  • Feast of Youth (1918)
  • The Magic Tree (Published posthumously in 1943) included children's poems.
  • The Wizard Mask (Published posthumously in 1944) included her poems.
• Other Works:
  • Speeches and Writings of Sarojini Naidu (Edited by C.P. Rama Swamy Iyer, 1925) is a compilation of her speeches and essays.
  • The Sceptred Flute: Songs of India (1943) compiles her earlier poetry collections.
  • The Indian Weavers is one of her most famous poems.

Arun Kolatkar

• Kolatkar (1932–2004) wrote Marathi and English literature.
• Marathi Poetry Collections:
  • Arun Kolatkarcha Kavita (1977)
  • Chirimiri (2004)
  • Bhijki Vahi (2004)
  • Droan (2004)
  • Char Kavita
• English Poetry Collections:
  • Jejuri (1976) won the Commonwealth Poetry Prize in 1977.
  • Kala Ghoda Poems (2004)
  • Sarpa Satra (2004)
  • The Boatride and Other Poems (2008), edited by Arvind Krishna Mehrotra
  • Collected Poems in English (2010), edited by Arvind Krishna Mehrotra
• Kolatkar's poetry explores vivid imagery and exploration of both urban and rural Indian life. His work influences contemporary Indian poets.

Salman Rushdie

• Rushdie was born in Bombay, India, on June 19, 1947, and is known for magical realism.
• Novels:
  • Grimus (1975)
  • Midnight's Children (1980)
  • Shame (1983)
  • The Satanic Verses (1988)
  • Haroun and the Sea of Stories (1990)
  • The Moor's Last Sigh (1995)
  • The Ground Beneath Her Feet (1999)
  • Fury (2001)
  • Shalimar the Clown (2005)
  • The Enchantress of Florence (2008)
  • Luka and the Fire of Life (2010)
  • Two Years Eight Months and Twenty-Eight Nights (2015)
  • The Golden House (2017)
  • Quichotte (2019)
  • Victory City (2023)
• Collections:
  • East, West (1994)
• Nonfiction:
  • Imaginary Homelands: Essays and Criticism, 1981-1991 (1992)
  • The Wizard of Oz (1992)
  • Joseph Anton: A Memoir (2012)
  • Languages of Truth: Essays 2003-2020 (2021)
  • Knife: Meditations After an Attempted Murder (2024) is listed as upcoming
• Short Fiction:
  • The Avatar (1981)
  • At the Auction of the Ruby Slippers (1992)
  • Chekov and Zulu (1994)
  • The Firebird's Nest (1997)
  • The Duniazát (2015)
• Rushdie's versatility shown various genres and forms.