Vaidehi (1945)
Janaki Srinivasa Murthy is popularly known as Vaidehi to her fans in the literary world. She is an accomplished writer of fiction in Kannada language. She is the winner of many prestigious awards in the state and national levels.
Her work spans across various genres like, short story and poem collections, essays, children’s plays, translations and biographies. She is also the winner of the Sahitya Academy award for her short story collection, Krauncha Pakshigalu.
Shobhaa De (1948)
Shobhaa De is a prominent columnist and novelist, and is known as the Jackie Collins of India in the literary circuit. Her works predominantly portray the lifestyle of socialites and celebrities.
She works as a freelance writer and columnist for various magazines and newspapers. Her opinions and works have been the subject of criticisms very often.
Sudha Murthy (1950)
Better known as the Chairperson of Infosys Foundation, Sudha Murthy is known for her philanthropic works and also for her writings in English and Kannada. She initiated the facility of computers and libraries to all government schools in Karnataka.
Recipient of numerous awards and accolades, she has authored several books in Kannada and English.
Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni (1956)
Chitra B Divakaruni is a an Indian-American author and poet, and Professor of Creative Writing at the University of Houston. She writes for both children and adults on various genres like, historical fiction, fantasy and magical realism.
Her popular works include, Arranged Marriage for which she won the American Book Award, Mistress of Spices which was made into a movie and The Palace of Illusions, a retelling of Mahabharata.
Arundathi Roy (1961)
Recipient of the prestigious Man Booker Prize for Fiction for her novel God Of Small Things, Arundathi Roy is one of the important writers of modern literature. Apart from writing, she is also an active political activist for human rights and environmental causes.
Her second novel, The Ministry of Utmost Happiness is due to be published by June 2017. She has also authored various non-fictions, essays and articles.
J K Rowling (1965)
She is popularly known as the creator of Harry Potter and other famous characters through her Harry Potter series of books. Also a screen-writer and film producer, J K Rowling also wrote under the pen name, Robert Galbraith.
The Harry Potter series became all-time bestsellers and she was hailed as UK’s best-selling writer. She is an active supporter of numerous charity causes.
Kavita Kané (1966)
An acclaimed writer in the genre of mythological fiction, Kavita Kané’s novels are the retellings of the great Indian epics, Ramayana and Mahabharata through the perspectives of female protagonists.
She has written four novels thus far, each of them based on significant female characters showcasing a strong and spirited persona.
Anita Nair (1966)
Anita Nair is a popular Indian writer of English who hails from Kerala. Anita Nair received a fellowship for her first collection of short stories, Satyr of the Subway from the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts.
She is one of the best-selling authors of fiction and poetry and her works have been translated into many languages. She is the recipient of numerous awards, including the Kerala Sahitya Academy Award.
Jhumpa Lahiri (1967)
An American author and currently a professor of Creative Writing at Princeton University, Jhumpa Lahiri is the recipient of the prestigious Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and her work was also nominated for the Man Booker Prize.
Her debut work, Interpreter of Maladies is a portrayal of societal sensitivities, immigrant issues, marital difficulties and many other themes. Her works are known for simple language and prominent characterizations.
Who are your favorite women authors? Let us know in the comments section below.
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