Indian literature: Quick Facts

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Mahabharata: manuscript folio

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Key People

Mirza Ghalib

Mirza Ghalib

Indian poet

Arundhati Roy

Arundhati Roy

Indian author and activist

Guru Gobind Singh, 18th century, Punjab

Guru Gobind Singh

Sikh Guru

Indian-born writer Amitav Ghosh

Amitav Ghosh

Indian-born writer

Indian writer Khushwant Singh in his study

Khushwant Singh

Indian writer

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Kalidasa

Indian author

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Bhavabhuti

Indian writer

The Guru

Utpal Dutt

Indian actor, director, writer, playwright

Bengali author and scholar Nirad C. Chaudhuri

Nirad C. Chaudhuri

Bengali author and scholar

Jyotirao Phule

Jyotirao Phule

Indian social reformer and writer

Drawing of Sri Aurobindo with long hair, mustache, and a pointed beard, shown facing forward with a calm expression.

Sri Aurobindo

Indian philosopher and yogi

Writer at work

Ismat Chughtai

Indian writer

Ruskin Bond

Ruskin Bond

Indian author

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Nissim Ezekiel

Indian poet and playwright

Shashi Tharoor

Shashi Tharoor

Indian politician and author

Vandana Shiva

Vandana Shiva

Indian scientist and activist

Girish Karnad

Indian author, actor, and film director

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Kamala Markandaya

Indian author

R.K. Narayan

R.K. Narayan

Indian author

Ravidas

Ravidas

Indian mystic and poet

Emily Dickinson (1830-1886) only confirmed photograph of Emily Dickinson. 1978 scan of a Daguerreotype. ca. 1847; in the Amherst College Archives. American poet. See Notes:

Poetry: First Lines

4:043 Dickinson, Emily: A Life of Letters, This is my letter to the world/That never wrote to me; I'll tell you how the Sun Rose/A Ribbon at a time; Hope is the thing with feathers/That perches in the soul

Famous Poets and Poetic Form