Top 5 Indian Writers


 

Indian Literature boasts material produced in its various languages as well as in English. The country competes on the world map of Literature, with a range of genres from sacred and philosophical writings, to erotic, narrative folktales, poetry, and plays. Here’s a look at the top 5 Indian Writers.

1. Ram Sharan Sharma (1919- 2011)

Collage of Indian authors’ works- by Shri Tulsi Peeth Seva Nyas- Wikimedia Commons

Ram Sharan Sharma is a much respected Indian author, educationist, and literary giant. He is renowned for his writings in History and Culture, as he specialized in India’s ancient and medieval history. He has written acclaimed literature such as ‘Urban Decay in India ‘, ‘Looking for the Aryans’, and ‘India’s Ancient Past’ among others.

Sharma was a humble powerhouse, perhaps stemming from his upbringing- he was born in Begusarai District of India, and was educated in a rural environment. He championed and was at the forefront of the fight to improve the standards of his Barauni village. It’s heartwarming that he particularly was interested in seeing to it that children and women had access to educational facilities. The local library at his Barauni village was advocated for by Sharma.

Ram Sharma’s books have been translated into many world languages. The author found himself on the government’s bad side and had his book ‘Ancient India’ banned. His controversial views on the historical role of Krishna in the Mahabharata did not sit well.

Ram Sharan’s life was inspirational for radical and innovative thinking in India and beyond.

2. Anita Desai (1937 to present)

Clear Light of Day Cover- Wikipedia

Anita Desai has written at least a dozen adult and children books and received awards for some of them. Her debut novel ‘Cry the Peacock’ tackled a sensitive subject- the suppression and oppression of Indian women.

Perhaps her most successful work is the novel ‘Clear Light Of Day’ which adequately draws a picture of two sisters’ lives caught in the indolence of life in India. Desai’s style conjures up character and mood by using diverse images- her success can be partially attributed to this. Of her writing, Desai said ‘My style of writing is to allow the story to unfold on its own. I try not to structure my work too rigidly’.

Desai also explored another genre of writing- some of her short fictional stories include ‘Games at Twilight, and Other Stories’ and ‘ Diamond Dust and Other Stories’.

Another of Desai’s contribution to the literary world is the publishing firm, ‘Writers Workshop’ which has contributed greatly to publishing in India. This was a brainchild of Desai’s fellow writer P. Lal whom she partnered with, in 1958.

Though based in America now, Desai was born and bred in New Delhi, India. Her first story was written at age seven and she was first published at age nine! She must have inspired her daughter and husband to become writers as well- Desai’s daughter Kiran Desai won the Booker Prize for her 2006 novel ‘The Inheritance of Loss’.

3. Rabindranath Tagore (1861- 1941)

Copy of actual Tagore Poem- by Rabindranath Tagore- Wikimedia Commons

“I seem to have loved you in numberless forms, numberless times…
In life after life, in age after age, forever.”

“The singer alone does not make a song,
there has to be someone who hears.”

These two weighty lines are excerpts from Rabindranath Tagore’s poetry. There are at many other pieces of creative poetry for your indulgence from this renowned poet whose origins are in India; If you get your hands on ‘Manasi’ you shall be privy to some of Tagore’s best-known poems.

He is credited with introducing Indian culture to the West and the Western culture to India. Tagore wears many hats- a poet, playwright, essayist, painter, and short-story writer. He also was the first non- European to receive the Nobel Prize for Literature!

A look at Tagore’s latter years’ writing will reveal a style or theme influenced by his stay in a houseboat on Padma River interacting with villagers, soaking up their lifestyles, their misery, and pain as well as little joys. His stay here yielded several poetry collections.

India accords Tagore the title ‘outstanding creative artist of early 20th-century’. Before his writing, Bengali literature would not include colloquial language. Rabindranath Tagore’s achievements, inclusive of his poetry are inspirational. He has a large body of work under his name.

4. Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay (1876-1938)

Actress in Devdas play- by Bimal Roy- Wikimedia Commons

He was inspired by his father who was also a writer, towards his literary journey, and went on to publish his first famous essay as a teenager. Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay wrote about bigotry and the patriarchal society. His novels in Bengali language are popular, and so are his short stories.

Thought smart, Chandra didn’t get an opportunity to attend college. He immediately got serious with his writing in his teens and produced some famous novels and stories.

One of Chandra’s most popular works ‘Devdas’ has been adapted for the screen 20 times for film and 5 times for a song. “Devdas’ is a riveting love story. ‘Parineeta’, ‘Palli Samaj’, and ‘Biraj Bau’ are some of his other popular works.

Chandra was a feminist and as such a great number of his works touch on the subjects that depict the injustices and challenges of women. This and other daily living issues he wrote about made Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay popular.

It is endearing that he taught his second wife who was illiterate, how to read and write.

5. Ruskin Bond (1934-Present)

Bond speaking in Bangalore- by Jim Ankan Deka- Wikimedia Commons

Ruskin Bond is another of writers who began their literary journey at a young age. Bond wrote his first short stories at age sixteen, and his first novel after his high school education. The novel was titled ‘The Room On The Roof’ and was awarded the John Llewellyn Rhys Prize usually awarded to a British Commonwealth writer under 30.

Ruskin Bond Learnt to earn a living out of his writing early on- he wrote short stories and poetry for newspapers and magazines. Some of his popular writing such as ‘Ghost Stories From The Raj’, ‘A Season of Ghosts’ and ‘A Face in the Dark and other Hauntings’ showed his interest in supernatural fiction which he wrote exceptionally well.

Compared to his success, Bond’s beginnings as a writer were humble- he started out as a freelance writer, moving on to Editor of various magazines.

He was born in Punjab, India, and studied in India and the United Kingdom. His UK stint helped enhance his writing career. ‘The Blue Umbrella’ published in 1980 is widely acclaimed and has been adapted into a film and comic book. It won the National Film Award for Best Children’s Film.

 

These top 5 Indian writers give a glimpse into the greatness of India’s Literature. With the diversity in genre, Indian writers hold their own on the world list of acclaimed writers.

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