Indian literature developing by leaps and bounds: Famous Indian authors and their works

From a few English books released a year ago to thousands of new titles released every year now, Indian English Literature has come a long way.

With so many books being published and Indian literature growing by leaps and bounds, it might be difficult to locate the best Indian novels among the crowd. In a country as vast and diverse as India, there is always a tale to be told. That is why to save you from the hassle, here is a compiled list of some timeless masterpieces by Indian authors.

The Guide (R.K Narayan)

It is an English novel written in 1958 by Indian novelist R.K Narayan. The novel, like most of his works, is set in Malgudi, a fictional village in South India. The tale follows the protagonist, Raju as he evolves from a tour guide to a spiritual guide and eventually to one of India's finest holy men.

Train to Pakistan (Khushwant Singh)

This novel recounts India’s partition in August 1947 and instead of focusing solely on political events surrounding the partition, Singh delves into a deep local emphasis, offering a personal component that gives the event a sense of truth, horror and authenticity.

The complete adventures of Feluda (Satyajit Ray)

The master detective Pradosh C. Mitter, alias Feluda, appears in a total of 35 Feluda stories written by Satyajit Ray between 1965-1992. The complete adventures of Feluda in 2 volumes, now include these tales and Gopa Majumdar translated them into English.

The God of small things (Arundhati Roy)

The “Love Laws” imposed by society have a devastating effect on the lives of fraternal twins Esthappen and Rahel during their formative years. The book examines how little things may have a big impact on how people act and live. It was the 1997 Booker Prize winner.

The Autobiography of an Unknown Indian (Nirad C. Chaudhury)

It is truly a remarkable effort of self-discovery and he blends his personal growth and changes with those of Indian politics, and national and societal sentiment in this book. The story and historical testimonies are solemn and thoughtful.

The Palace of Illusions (Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni)

It is a retelling of the Hindu epic Mahabharata from Draupadi’s perspective of a woman surviving in a patriarchal society. The book follows the life of  Princess Panchali, starting with her fiery birth and continuing with her energetic juggling act as a woman with five husbands who had been defrauded out of their father’s kingdom.

Are you looking for the best books and novels written by Indian authors? Check out these lists of books exclusively written by famous Indian authors.