75 Best Indian Authors and their Books in English: The Must-Read List (2020 Update)

[Updated on 26-April-2020]

Best Indian Authors

I’ve been trying to compile this list of Best Indian Authors in the English Language for a long time now. Every time I start, I get stuck up at zeroing in on the names.

There are so many great writers and novelists from India and of Indian origin, in the English language, that it is difficult to keep the list short.

Though I’m not a great fan of literary fictions and tend to incline towards mysteries and thrillers, I have tried my best to be unbiased and impartial.

While creating such lists, it is unavoidable to incline towards one’s preferences and tastes. If you are a fan of romance, you’d prefer Durjoy Dutta over Amish Tripathi; if you are a fan of humour, you’d prefer Sidin Vadukut over Ravinder Singh, and vice versa.

So, I decided to break down the list into different genres.

Also Read: 121 Best English Books by Indian Authors: The Definitive List (2018)

THE ALL-TIME GREATS OF INDIAN ENGLISH WRITING

R.K. NARAYAN
RK Narayan

Unarguably the best and foremost Indian writer in English, R.K. Narayan’s novels, and short stories are the reasons why common middle-class Indians developed an interest in English stories. Best known for the fictional town of Malgudi, Narayan has written many fiction books including Swami and Friends, The Guide, A Tiger for Malgud”, The English Teacher, etc. His most famous and most sold book is his collection of short stories – Malgudi Days. His is a name which you will find on any list of “Best Indian Authors”.
MULK RAJ ANAND
Mulk Raj Anand

One of the pioneers of Anglo-Indian fiction, Mulk Raj Anand’s works are remarkable for their depiction of poorer castes in a conventional Indian society. He is one of the first Indian writers in English to have gained international readership with his first novel Untouchable, published in 1935. His other notable works include The Village, Coolie, and The Private Life of an Indian Prince. Mulk Raj is one Indian author whose every book is highly recommended.
KHUSHWANT SINGH
Khushwant Singh

Khushwant Singh is one of the greatest Indian writers and journalists of all times. A versatile genius, he has been a lawyer, an information officer, a journalist, an editor and an MP. He was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1974, which he returned in 1984 to protest against Operation Bluestar. His foremost books include Train to Pakistan, Delhi: A Novel, Why I Supported the Emergency, There is No God and The Sunset Club, amongst others.
RUSKIN BOND
RUSKIN BOND

Renowned for his role in promoting children's literature in India, Ruskin Bond is an Indian of British descent. He was born in Kasauli and grew up in Shimla and Dehradun. His life in the different hill stations of Himalayas has greatly influenced his stories and writing style. With a career spanning over 50 years, he has experimented with many different genres - children's fiction, short stories, novella, non-fiction, romance, etc. He was awarded the Padma Shri in 1999 and Padma Bhushan in 2014. His greatest works include The Room on the Roof, A Flight of Pigeons, Delhi is Not Far, The Night Train at Deoli and The Blue Umbrella.
MANOHAR MALGONKAR
manohar malgonkar

A contemporary of R.K. Narayan and Mulk Raj Anand, Manohar Malgonkar is largely ignored in spite of his stellar contribution to Indian writing in English. At a time when mysteries and thrillers were not very well-read in India, Manohar pioneered the genre and contributed immensely to it with books like Spy in Amber, A Bend in the Ganges, Bandicoot Run, Cactus Country, etc. If he were writing today, he would surely be an international name in the mystery and thriller genres, writing and competing with the likes of Jeffrey Archer, Clive Cussler, and James Patterson.
NIRAD C. CHAUDHURI
nirad c chaudhuri

He writes with equal flair in English and Bengali. His books are the foremost authority on the histories and cultures of India during British colonialism. While working as an accountant in the Indian Army, he began writing for popular magazines and newspapers. In 1951, his masterpiece The Autobiography of an Unknown Indian was published which put him on the list of greatest Indian writers. The same book, due to its controversial acknowledgement, ruined his life - he was terminated from Government service, deprived of his pension and blacklisted as an author. His other notable works include The Continent of Circe, The Intellectual in India, Hinduism: A Religion to Live By, Thy Hand, Great Anarch! and Culture in the Vanity Bag.

TOP INDIAN LITERARY FICTION WRITERS

ARUNDHATI ROY
arundhati roy

She rose to international prominence after winning the Man Booker Prize for Fiction in 1998 for her novel The God of Small Things. Roy began her career writing screenplays for television and movies and went on to become one of the most recognised names in Indian writing in English.
NOTABLE BOOKS:
The Algebra of Infinite Justice
Listening to Grasshoppers
Broken Republic
ARAVIND ADIGA
aravind adiga

Aravind Adiga's debut novel The White Tiger won the Man Booker Prize in 2008 when he was just 33 years old. He was born in Madras and grew up in Mangalore. He began his career as a financial journalist at Financial Times. He currently lives in Mumbai.
NOTABLE WORKS:
The White Tiger
Between the Assassinations
Last Man in Tower
Selection Day
KIRAN DESAI
Kiran Desai

Her critically acclaimed first novel Hullabaloo in the Guava Orchard was published in 1998. Her second book The Inheritance of Loss won the 2006 Man Booker Prize. In 2015, she was listed as one of 20 most influential global Indian women.
VIKRAM SETH
Vikram Seth

His 1349 page novel, A Suitable Boy, published in 1993 propelled him into the public limelight. He has been conferred with many awards like Padma Shri, Sahitya Academy Award, Pravasi Bharatiya Samman and WH Smith Literary Award.
NOTABLE WORKS:
A Suitable Boy
The Golden Gate
An Equal Music
Two Lives
AMITAV GHOSH
Amitav Ghosh

He was born in Calcutta and grew up in India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. This influenced his books, most of which are set around the Bay of Bengal, the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean. He shone to limelight with his book The Circle of Reason which won the Prix Médicis Etranger, France's top literary award. He was awarded the Padma Shri in 2007.
NOTABLE WORKS:
Sea of Poppies
The Glass Palace
The Calcutta Chromosome
River of Smoke
JEET THAYIL
Jeet Thayil

His first novel Narcopolis, set in the Bombay of 70s and 80s, won the DSC Prize for South Asian Literature and was also shortlisted for the 2012 Man Booker Prize. His collection of poems These Errors are Correct was awarded the Sahitya Academy Award.
NOTABLE WORKS:
Narcopolis
Apocalypso
These Errors are Correct
SHASHI THAROOR
Shashi Tharoor

A career United Nations official, he is currently a Lok Sabha MP. His monthly column India Reawakening is published in 80 newspapers around the world. He began writing at the age of 6 and getting published at the age of 10. His books are an authority on British atrocities in India.
NOTABLE WORKS:
The Great Indian Novel
The Five Dollar Smile and Other Stories
Show Business
Riot

BEST HISTORIANS AND WRITERS OF HISTORY BOOKS FROM INDIA

B.B. LAL
B.B. Lal

He was the Director General of Archaeological Survey of India from 1968 to 1972. He is an authority on ancient archaeological excavations and has written extensively on the subject.
NOTABLE WORKS:
The Earliest Civilization of South Asia
The Sarasvatī Flows On
Has the Indus Script Been Deciphered?
R.C. MAJUMDAR
R.C. Majumdar

Having spent his childhood in poverty, he completed his education with the help of scholarships. He started his career as a lecturer, then became the professor of history at the University of Calcutta and later the Principal of the College of Indology, BHU. He has researched extensively on Vedic and ancient Indian history.
NOTABLE WORKS:
An Advanced History of India
Ancient India
History of the Freedom Movement in India
Corporate Life in Ancient India
SEKHAR BANDYOPADHYAY
Sekhar Bandyopadhyay

Sekhar Bandyopadhyay is Senior Lecturer and Head of the History Programme, School of History, Philosophy, Political Science and International Relations, Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand. His research interests include the social and political history of modern India, with special reference to Bengal.
NOTABLE WORKS:
From Plassey to Partition
Nationalist Movement in India
BIPAN CHANDRA
Bipan Chandra

An expert on the economic and political history of modern India, Bipan Chandra's book India’s Struggle for Independence, is a must-read book on India's freedom movement. He started his career as a lecturer at Hindu College, Delhi and went to become the Chairman of National Book Trust India.
NOTABLE WORKS:
India’s Struggle for Independence
Nationalism and Colonialism in Modern India
The Epic Struggle
In the Name of Democracy
SRINATH RAGHAVAN
Srinath Raghavan

Srinath Raghavan is Senior Fellow at the Centre for Policy Research, New Delhi, specialising in contemporary and historical aspects of India’s foreign and security policies.
NOTABLE WORKS:
India's War: The Making of Modern South Asia
1971: A Global History of the Creation of Bangladesh
War and Peace in Modern India
SANJEEV SANYAL
Sanjeev Sanyal

Regarded as one of Asia's leading economists, he is currently the Principal Economic Adviser in the Ministry of Finance, Government of India. In 2010, he was named Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum in Davos.
NOTABLE WORKS:
Land of the Seven Rivers: A Brief History of India's Geography
The Indian Renaissance
The Ocean of Churn
ANUJ DHAR
Anuj Dhar

He is the foremost authority on the life of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. He has published several books refuting the air crash theory which promulgates that Netaji died in an air crash in Taiwan.
NOTABLE WORKS:
India's Biggest Cover-up
Back from Dead: Inside the Subhas Bose Mystery
CIA's Eye on South Asia
No Secrets

BEST INDIAN AUTHORS OF RELIGIOUS/MYTHOLOGY BOOKS

SWAMI VIVEKANANDA
Swami Vivekananda

He is most famously known for his speech at the Parliament of Religions, Chicago in 1893. He vastly contributed to the rise of nationalism in colonial India. Since his childhood, he was inclined towards spirituality and was the chief disciple of Ramakrishna Paramahamsa. His books introduced the concepts of Vedanta and Yoga to the Western world.
NOTABLE WORKS:
My Master
Lectures from Colombo to Almora
The East and the West
Complete Works
C. RAJAGOPALACHARI
C. Rajagopalachari

Rajaji was the last Governor-General of India. He also served as the Governor of West Bengal, Minister of Home Affairs and Chief Minister of Madras state. Besides his political accomplishments, he was a gifted writer. His English translations of Ramayana and Mahabharata are still considered the best. He often regarded his writings as his best service to the people.
NOTABLE WORKS:
Mahabharata
Ramayana
Upanishads
PRATIBHA RAY
Pratibha Ray

A professor by profession and a writer by choice, Pratibha Ray undoubtedly is a household name in Odisha and in most parts of India through her translated works.
NOTABLE WORKS:
Yajnaseni: The Story of Draupadi
Adibhoomi
Shilapadma
ASHOK K. BANKER
Ashok K. Banker

The author of several bestsellers, Ashok K. Banker's books span many genres - crime thrillers, literary, mythology. His Epic India Library aims to retell all the myths, legends and itihasa of the Indian sub-continent with over 70 volumes.
NOTABLE WORKS:
Ramayana (8-Book Series)
Mahabharata (18-Book Series)
DEVDUTT PATTANAIK
Devdutt Pattanaik

An Indian mythologist, he is famous for his work on ancient Indian scriptures.
NOTABLE WORKS:
Myth = Mithya
My Hanuman Chalisa
Vishnu: An Introduction
The Pregnant King
Sita: An Illustrated Retelling of the Ramayana
Shikhandi: And Other Tales They Don't Tell You

BEST INDIAN AUTHORS OF HISTORICAL FICTION BOOKS

ASHWIN SANGHI
Ashwin Sanghi

Ashwin's first book, The Rozabal Line, was rejected by 47 literary agents and publishers which he then self-published under the pseudonym Shawn Haigins, an anagram of his name. It was later picked up by Westland and since then he has been publishing one bestseller after another. His book Chanakya's Chant was on AC Nielsen's Top-10 for over two years.
NOTABLE WORKS:
The Krishna Key
Chanakya's Chant
The Rozabal Line
INDU SUNDARESAN
Indu Sundaresan

Indu Sundaresan was born and brought up in India, on Air Force bases around the country. She grew up on stories from Hindu mythology told by her father and grandfather. Her first novel, The Twentieth Wife, won the Washington State Book Award in 2003.
NOTABLE WORKS:
Twentieth Wife
The Feast of Roses
Shadow Princess
VINEET BAJPAI
Vineet Bajpai

Basically, an author of self-help books and a motivational speaker, Vineet has been featured by CNBC TV18 in their popular program ‘Young Turks’, where he was featured as being among the most successful young entrepreneurs of India. With Harappa: Curse of the Blood River, he has proved himself to be a historical fiction writer to look forward to.

BEST MYTHOlOGICAL FICTION WRITERS IN INDIA

AMISH TRIPATHI
Amish Tripathi

India's literary pop star, Amish Tripathi is one of the most sold authors in India today. His books have collectively sold more than 4 million copies, with gross sales of Rs. 120 crores. Forbes India has ranked Amish among the top 100 celebrities in India.
NOTABLE WORKS:
The Immortals of Meluha
The Secret of the Nagas
The Oath of the Vayuputras
ANAND NEELAKANTAN
Anand Neelakantan

He carved out a totally new genre - the counter-telling of mythology. His debut mythological fictionAsura: Tale of the Vanquished broke into all the top seller charts within a week of its launch in 2012.
NOTABLE WORKS:
Asura: Tale of the Vanquished
Ajaya: Roll of the Dice
Ajaya: Rise of Kali
CHITRA BANERJEE DIVAKARUNI
Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni

Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni is an award-winning and bestselling author, poet, activist and teacher of writing. Her work has been published in over 50 magazines and her writing has been included in over 50 anthologies. Several of her works have been made into films and plays.
NOTABLE WORKS:
The Palace of Illusions
The Mistress of Spices
Queen of Dreams
KRISHNA UDAYASANKAR
Krishna Udayasankar

Govinda, Krishna’s bestselling debut novel and the first in the Aryavarta Chronicles series of mytho-historical novels, received critical acclaim.
NOTABLE WORKS:
Govinda
Kaurava
Kurukshetra
VAMSEE JULURI
Vamsee Juluri

Vamsee Juluri received his PhD in Communication from the University of Massachusetts in 1999. His research interest is in the globalization of media audiences with an emphasis on Indian television and cinema, mythology, religion, violence and Gandhian philosophy.
NOTABLE WORKS:
Saraswati's Intelligence
Rearming Hinduism
The Mythologist

THE BEST WRITERS OF ROMANCE NOVELS IN INDIA

PREETI SHENOY
Preeti Shenoy

She has been consistently nominated for the Forbes List of the 100 most influential celebrities in India since 2013. India Today calls her 'the only woman in the highest-selling league'.
NOTABLE WORKS:
It's All in the Planets
The Secret Wish List
The One You Cannot Have
It Happens For A Reason
RAVINDER SINGH
Ravinder Singh

Ravinder Singh lost the love of his life in 2007, a few days before their engagement, which inspired him to take up writing. Today he is one of the foremost romance writers in India.
NOTABLE WORKS:
I Too Had a Love Story
Can Love Happen Twice?
Like it Happened Yesterday
Your Dreams Are Mine Now
DURJOY DUTTA
Durjoy Datta

Durjoy Datta's first novel, Of Course I Love You! was released in 2008 while he was still in college. Today he’s the bestselling author of twelve blockbuster novels.
NOTABLE WORKS:
Of Course I Love You
Ohh Yes, I am Single
When Only Love Remains
SUDEEP NAGARKAR
Sudeep Nagarkar

He is the recipient of the 2013 Youth Achievers' Award for being one of the highest selling romance writers in India. His book 'She Swiped Right into My Heart' was on No. 1 in Nielsen bestselling charts for more than 10 consecutive weeks. He quit his management job in 2012 to devote his entire time to writing.
NOTABLE WORKS:
You're Trending in My Dreams
Our Story Needs No Filter
Sorry You're Not My Type
CHETAN BHAGAT
Chetan Bhagat
He needs no introduction. Most of his bestselling books are made into movies which themselves are blockbusters. A noted public figure, he regularly writes and speaks on youth, career development and current affairs.
NOTABLE WORKS:
Half Girlfriend
One Indian Girl
The 3 Mistakes of My Life

BEST MYSTERY AND THRILLER AUTHORS IN INDIA

VIKRAM CHANDRA
Vikram Chandra Author

Not to be confused with the journalist with the same name, Vikram Chandra is the son of Kamna Chandra, writer of several Hindi films and plays. His debut novel Red Earth and Pouring Rain won the Commonwealth Writers Prize for Best First Book.
NOTABLE WORKS:
Sacred Games
Red Earth and Pouring Rain
RAVI SUBRAMANIAN
Ravi Subramanian

A banker by profession and an author by choice, Ravi Subramanian has written popular thrillers on banking and bankers including The Banker Trilogy.
NOTABLE WORKS:
If God Was a Banker
The Incredible Banker
The Bankster
God is a Gamer
NOVONEEL CHAKRABORTY
Novoneel Chakraborty

His speciality lies in romantic thrillers that he writes along with philosophy mixed with it. His first book “A Thing beyond forever” released in 2008 and won the national bestseller tag in just a few months of its release. Today, he is a full-time writer and scriptwriter.
NOTABLE WORKS:
Marry Me, Stranger
All Yours, Stranger
Forever is a Lie
BHASKAR CHATTOPADHYAY
Bhaskar Chattopadhyay

Bhaskar Chattopadhyay has had a successful corporate career as a statistician and management professional. Today he is a successful writer and translator.
NOTABLE WORKS:
Patang
Penumbra
Here Falls the Shadow
SALIL DESAI
Salil Desai

An alumnus of FTII, and a former journalist, Salil Desai is an Indian novelist who writes murder mysteries. He has also produced films, held creative writing workshops and written a number of short stories.
NOTABLE WORKS:
The Murder of Sonia Raikkonen
3 And A Half Murders
Murder on a Side Street
MADHUMITA BHATTACHARYA
Madhumita Bhattacharya

Madhumita Bhattacharyya wrote for The Telegraph in Calcutta for a decade, followed by a stint in the nonprofit sector.
NOTABLE WORKS:
Dead in a Mumbai Minute
The Masala Murder
Goa Undercover
ANITA NAIR
Anita Nair

She was working as a creative director when she wrote her first book, a collection of short stories called Satyr of the Subway. The book won her a fellowship from the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts.
NOTABLE WORKS:
Cut Like Wound
Chain of Custody
The Lilac House

TOP-MOST WRITERS OF SCI-FI/FANTASY NOVELS IN INDIA

SAMIT BASU
Samit Basu

The pioneer in Indian sci-fi writing, Samit published his first sci-fi novel, The Simoqin Prophecies, when he was just 23. His novel Turbulence, published in 2012, introduced him to the West. Superheronovels.com called it a contender for best superhero novel of all time.
NOTABLE WORKS:
The Gameworld Trilogy
Turbulence
Resistance
INDRA DAS
Indra Das

Indra has written about books, comics, TV and film for publications including Slant Magazine, VOGUE India, Elle India, Strange Horizons and Vancouver Weekly. Indra’s debut novel The Devourers was the winner of the 2017 Lambda Literary Award for Best LGBTQ SF/F/Horror.
SUKANYA VENKATRAGHAVAN
Sukanya Venkatraghavan

Sukanya Venkatraghavan is an Indian writer, primarily writing fantasy novels. Her first brush with fantasy was as a film journalist in Mumbai, covering the glamorous yet daunting world of Bollywood with publications like Filmfare and Marie Claire. Her debut work Dark Things is a best-selling fantasy novel. With just one book to her name, she is still a fantasy writer to look out for.
SHWETA TANEJA
Shweta Taneja

Taneja's journalism career began with the magazines Femina and Men's Health (where she was the Assistant Editor of the India edition). She continues to write for many print and online publications including Mint, Discover India, Swarajya, Scroll and The Huffington Post (India).
NOTABLE WORKS:
The Matsya Curse
Cult of Chaos
The Skull Rosary
VIKRAM BALAGOPAL
Vikram Balagopal

Following his training at the New York Film Academy, New York, Vikram Balagopal has worked in India with various film-makers, and his screenplay was chosen for Mira Nair’s Maisha Screenwriter’s Lab. He is also a published poet, illustrator and cartoonist for several magazines.
NOTABLE WORKS:
Simian (Part-1&2)
Savage Blue
SHOBHA NIHALANI
Shobha Nihalani

Shobha Nihalani is the author of The Silent Monument. Her debut novel, Karmic Blues, was translated and published in Denmark. She has worked as a freelance journalist, copywriter, bookkeeper, English teacher and salesperson.
NOTABLE WORKS:
Nine: Curse of the Kalingan
Nine: Vengeance of the Warrior
Nine: The Rise of the Kalingan
MAINAK DHAR
Mainak Dhar

A self-described cubicle dweller by day and writer by night, Mainak is the author of over a dozen books, some of which have been bestsellers in India and abroad. These books have been translated into Turkish, Vietnamese, Japanese, French, German and Portuguese.
NOTABLE WORKS:
Zombiestan
Alice in Deadland
03:02
Chronicler of the Undead

BEST CHICK-LIT AUTHORS IN INDIA

RAJASHREE
Rajashree

She studied direction at the Film and Television Institute of India and has assisted Mansoor Khan and Sanjay Leela Bhansali. Her critically-acclaimed debut, Trust Me, is the biggest-selling Indian chick lit novel.
SWATI KAUSHAL
Swati Kaushal

Kaushal was born and brought up in New Delhi and her stories are based on her personal experiences. An MBA from IIM Calcutta, she has worked with Nestle India Limited and Nokia Mobile Phones.
NOTABLE WORKS:
A Piece of Cake
A Girl Like Me
ADVAITA KALA
Advaita Kala

Famous for writing varied female characters in popular Bollywood movies, Advaita Kala is a hotelier by profession. Be it Vidya Bagchi from Kahaani or Kiara from Anjaana-Anjaani, she has a knack for creating strong, courageous and independent female characters.
NOTABLE WORKS:
Almost Single
Almost There!
MEENAKSHI REDDY MADHAVAN
Meenakshi Reddy Madhavan

Daughter of the famous Malayalam writer and former IAS officer N. S. Madhavan, Meenakshi is a blogger an a writer.
NOTABLE WORKS:
Split
Before, And Then After
The Life & Times Of Layla The Ordinary
You Are Here

BEST AUTHORS OF SELF-HELP AUTHORS IN INDIA

ROBIN SHARMA
Robin Sharma

NOTABLE WORKS:
The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari
Who Will Cry When You Die?
The Leader Who Had No Title
The Saint, the Surfer, and the CEO
Megaliving!: 30 Days to a Perfect Life
SHIV KHERA
Shiv Khera

NOTABLE WORKS:
You Can Win
You Can Sell
Freedom Is Not Free
Winning Strategies
Winner's Edge
SADHGURU
Sadhguru

NOTABLE WORKS:
Inner Engineering: A Yogi's Guide to Joy
Body the Greatest Gadget
Inner Management
Three Truths of Well-Being
RADHAKRISHNAN PILLAI
Radhakrishnan Pillai

NOTABLE WORKS:
Corporate Chanakya
Chanakya's 7 Secrets of Leadership
Chanakya in You
Corporate Chanakya on Leadership
PRAKASH IYER
Prakash Iyer

NOTABLE WORKS:
The Habit of Winning
The Secret of Leadership
You Too Can
OM SWAMI
Om Swami

NOTABLE WORKS:
The Wellness Sense
If Truth Be Told
When All Is Not Well: Depression and Sadness
The Ancient Science of Mantras: Wisdom of the Sages

Also Read: 121 Best English Books by Indian Authors: The Definitive List (2018)

83 thoughts on “75 Best Indian Authors and their Books in English: The Must-Read List (2020 Update)”

  1. I do wish to read Jhumpa Lahiri’s “Interpreter of Maladies” and Salman Rushdie’s “Midnight Children’s” asap. Please do add a list of current authors in Indian English Literature. Would love to read that too.

    Reply
  2. This is a great compilation. However I am surprised you have not mentioned Sourabh Mukherjee among contemporary notable authors of crime fiction. His latest The Colours of Passion is making waves. His first book In the Shadows of Death was and is a top seller too attracting wide media attention and critical acclaim.

    Reply
    • Thanks for your feedback @Khushbu. I will definitely order both the books and give them a read. Being an ardent follower of thrillers and mysteries, I always look forward to books in this genre by Indian authors.

      Reply
  3. I am a little surprised that the name of Jawaharlal Nehru is not in the list of writers of history or even in some other category. He writes some of the best prose we can read in the sub-continent

    Please read Sunil Khilnani’s essay: Gandhi and Nehru: the Uses of English

    Reply
  4. Why not Anita Desai?Just because she hasn’t received any important overseas award?She is a Sahitya Academy Award winner.Her novels are the best studies on psychic problems of common Indian women.Many PH.Ds & Research Paper has been written on her.Please check & add.

    Reply
    • Dear Dr. R.K. Sinha,

      Thanks for suggesting Anita Desai’s name to be included in the list.

      I have read her “Fasting, Feasting”, “Fire on the Mountain” and “In Custody” and though I didn’t dislike them, I didn’t love them either. The list is not based on “Important Overseas Awards” as can be seen from many unknown names on the list – Manohar Malgonkar, Anuj Dhar, Vineet Bajpai, Bhaskar Chattopadhyay etc. This is just a list of the authors whose books I love reading.

      Reply
  5. Such a wonderful list to read! I found a lot of new discoveries, much to catch up on…thank you so much for compiling this. There is *one* thing I wanted to mention: I kind of dislike it when I do a public post similar to this and someone is swift to jump in and “correct” me, or give their “opinion” on how right or wrong I am! So please don’t think I’m doing that…I just wanted to point out, in terms of Swami Vivekananda, you write, “His books introduced the concepts of Vedanta and Yoga to the Western world.” While indeed he was a prominent Indian philospher and one of the first writers in English of the Vedas and so on, actually his books were not that big in the west. The first person to actually “introduce the concepts of Vedanta and yoga to the Western world” was Swami Bhaktivedanta (1896-1977), whose books have been translated into countless languages, and tens of millions of copies sold worldwide. To be honest, I’m always stunned that India overlooks Bhaktivedanta Swami, a phenomenal Indian of huge historical merit.

    Reply
  6. Thank you, Ravi. This is an exhaustive compilation. There are a few authors in this list that I haven’t yet read and would like to explore. I am sure a lot of research and reading has gone into compiling this article. For book lovers in India, it is a good reference point, to remain current and updated on the literary scene. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

    Reply
  7. Excellent Ravi,
    It motivates people like me to write and be in your list! Appreciate your dedication in compiling this variagated list.
    H C V Kumar

    Reply
  8. Sir, excellent job u had done… being an M.A graduate may u suggest a good topic for my project? I need a guidance here…

    Reply
  9. Dr Allama iqbal an international poet writer a philosopher of British-india who has done barista in London and a politician written ”sarey jaha se acha hindustan hamara “as well am shocked in this list you have not mentioned his name

    Reply
  10. I am surprised not see the great Sarswati Samman achiever great writer of all time Me Mr Manoj Das .. Each one of his creation is timeless.

    Reply
  11. I referred it for quiz and tomorrow it’s the time for quiz let’s see I helps me or not but the system you followed was amazing as when I read any other websites I feel sleepy but yours was interesting

    Reply
  12. Why no mention of Anita Desai and Shobha De . Shobha De’s novels are read by more people than some of the authors in your list !! Just because of no awards are they neglected in your article . Writing pulp fiction is a fine art too which Shobha De has achieved with versatality .

    Reply
    • Dear Nitin,

      Thanks for suggesting Anita Desai’s name to be included in the list.

      I have read her “Fasting, Feasting”, “Fire on the Mountain” and “In Custody” and though I didn’t dislike them, I didn’t love them either. This is just a list of the authors whose books we, at bookGeeks, loved reading.

      Reply
  13. Nice article. I also feel Priya Kumar can be in this list. She has won 36 international awards for her books till date and my favourite book of Priya Kumar is ‘Turn The Tables’ and ‘The Calling’
    I find her books inspirational, motivational and yet fun and easy-to-read.

    Reply
  14. I am very interested in reading a novel. from these novels few of them I had read, Thanks admin for publishing very useful content.

    Reply
  15. Nice list across genre. Very informative. However I think the title of this blog should be the best Indian authors which you personally like/read or maybe best contemporary authors of our time. If you are including preceding and current authors then it is a literary crime not to include Tagore, Bankimchandra Chattopadhyay, Sharadindu(Creator of Byomkesh Bakshi), Bibhutibhusan, Saratchandra, Munshi Premchand, Michael Madhusudan among others..Basically you have missed all the important names who started the Indian literary renaissance.

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  16. Balinarayan
    OCTOBER 21, 2020
    You have left out, in your list, many distinguished Indian writers in English like Taru Dutta, Sarojini Naidu, Aurobindo Ghosh and many ohers. Aurobindo Ghosh’s epic ‘Savitri’ is no less important a poetry than Dante’s ‘Divine Comedy’.

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  17. Thankyou sir. It’s very helpful to me to choose a Indian writer to my project work and to familiar with so many Indian writers.l am extremely glad to share with you. Did you prefer a book for me to know about more.

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  18. Hi Ravi, Greetings for the day.
    I am in quest in reaching an author to present my younger daughter, who wrote a novel at the age of 11, while studying sixth class. As we are not right people to judge her work, want to make her more efficient in this field. Need your support. Can you help me out.

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  19. Extraordinary Ravi, you have done a great job by compiling all the Indian Writers in brief, which made me read from first to last. I wish you update in the next endeavour. Wish you all the best.

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  20. Its really extraordinary no words to explain for including all Indian writers work so that someone with passion for reading can select books and authors of our interest . I love to read and you provided me larger list of authors and books to select and read.Thank you for sharing such information.

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  21. Firstly a very good work!
    Yes, even I am surprised to not to see Tagor in the list. Please add him to the list. Atleast you sing National Antham know.
    Regards,
    Lakshmi

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  22. I have read some books of Meenakshi Reddy Madhavan and I enjoyed it very much.I like robin sharmas “The leader who had no title” really good.I love reading and thank you many details on books and authors which is extremely useful for people like me who loves reading.

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  23. Mr. Ravi
    I’m an old timer; a senior citizen. Though a retired teacher of English and a trainer of the English Language; Personality and Faculty; I realize that my reading habit has gone down considerably. Moreover, I too am into writing. This is how I came across your commendable work.
    I observe critics giving their opinion. But to me you are a voracious reader and have done a great job; I do appreciate your compilation. I understand you have done it for your pleasure and I wish and bless you to continue your reading habit and also this blog.
    All the best.

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  24. Prof Vikas Sharma, DLit, of CCS University, Meerut is also a notable Indian English Novelist of the present time. His name and works may also be included in this list.

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  25. Great list
    I am extremely thankful to you for this.
    I have not even tried one book from some of the authors on this list, but surely will now.
    But I dunno- Did I miss Sudha Murty here?

    Reply

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