Arundhati Roy's debut novel, The God of Small Things, won the Booker Prize in 1997 and is renowned for its intricate storytelling and exploration of socio-political issues.
2. Jhumpa Lahiri
Jhumpa Lahiri won the Pulitzer Prize for Interpreter of Maladies and is celebrated for her elegant portrayals of identity and the immigrant experience in works like The Namesake.
3. Anita Desai
Anita Desai, shortlisted for the Booker Prize three times, is known for her deep psychological insights and evocative portrayals of Indian life in novels like Clear Light of Day.
4. Kiran Desai
Kiran Desai's The Inheritance of Loss won the Booker Prize in 2006, acclaimed for its rich, descriptive language and exploration of globalization and cultural dislocation.
5. Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni is renowned for her retellings of Indian epics and exploration of immigrant experiences in novels like The Palace of Illusions and The Mistress of Spices.
6. Kamala Markandaya
Kamala Markandaya is best known for her novel Nectar in a Sieve, which poignantly depicts the struggles of rural India and has been widely acclaimed for its lyrical prose and deep empathy.
7. Shashi Deshpande
Shashi Deshpande is noted for her realistic portrayal of Indian women's lives and struggles, with her novel That Long Silence winning the Sahitya Akademi Award.
8. Mahasweta Devi
Mahasweta Devi, an eminent Bengali writer, is celebrated for her powerful works focusing on the lives and struggles of tribal communities in India, such as Hajar Churashir Maa.
9. Namita Gokhale
Namita Gokhale is known for her vivid storytelling and cultural insights, with notable works like Paro: Dreams of Passion and her contribution to contemporary Indian literature.
10. Gita Mehta
Gita Mehta, author of Karma Cola and A River Sutra, blends humor and spirituality in her works, offering a nuanced perspective on Indian culture and its complexities.