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Kiran Desai

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• British Council - Contemporary Writers - Biography of Kiran Desai
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• ILoveIndia.com - Biography of Kiran Desai

Kiran Desai (born September 3, 1971, New Delhi , India) is an Indian-born American author whose second novel , The Inheritance of Loss (2006), became an international best seller and won the 2006 Booker Prize .

Kiran Desai—daughter of the novelist Anita Desai —lived in India until age 15, after which her family moved to England and then to the United States . She graduated from Bennington College in 1993 and later received two M.F.A.’s—one from Hollins University, in Roanoke, Virginia, and the other from Columbia University , in New York City .

Desai left Columbia for several years to write her first novel, Hullabaloo in the Guava Orchard (1998), about a young man in provincial India who abandons an easy post office job and begins living in a guava tree, where he makes oracular pronouncements to locals. Unaware that he knows of their lives from having read their mail, they hail him as a prophet. Hullabaloo in the Guava Orchard drew wide critical praise and received a 1998 Betty Trask Prize from the British Society of Authors.

While working on what would become her second novel, Desai lived a peripatetic life that took her from New York to Mexico and India. After more than seven years of work, she published The Inheritance of Loss (2006). Set in India in the mid-1980s, the novel has at its centre a Cambridge-educated Indian judge living out his retirement in Kalimpong, near the Himalayas, with his granddaughter until their lives are disrupted by Nepalese insurgents. The novel also interweaves the story of the judge’s cook’s son as he struggles to survive as an illegal immigrant in the United States. The Inheritance of Loss was hailed by critics as a keen, richly descriptive analysis of globalization , terrorism, and immigration. When she received the Booker Prize for the novel in 2007, Desai became the youngest female writer to win the award.

Kiran Desai Wiki, Age, Boyfriend, Husband, Children, Family, Biography & More

Kiran Desai is a distinguished Indian novelist and author who received recognition worldwide with her two novels named ‘Hullabaloo in the Guava Orchard’ that led her to win ‘the Betty Trask Award’ in 1998, and ‘The Inheritance of Loss’ that bestowed her the 2006 “The Booker Award.” She also earned the National Book Critics Circle Fiction Award for respective novels.

Wiki/Biography

Kiran Desai was born on Friday, 3 September 1971 ( age 50 years; as of 2021 ) in Chandigarh, India. [1] India Study Channel Her zodiac sign is Virgo. Her hometown is Delhi, India. She procured her school education at Cathedral and John Connon School, Mumbai. In 1993, she received her graduate degree at Bennington College (a private liberal arts college in Bennington, Vermont, USA), and later, she pursued M.F.A in creative writing at Hollins University, a private university in Hollins, Virginia, US, and Columbia University, New York, USA. [2] Front List

Physical Appearance

Hair Colour: Black

Eye Colour: Black

Parents & Siblings

Kiran Desai’s father, Ashvin Desai is an Indian author. Her mother’s name is Anita Desai, and she is an Indian novelist and the Professor of Humanities at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Kiran desai with her mother Anita Desai

Her grandfather’s name is D. N. Mazumdar, who was a Bengali businessman, and her grandmother’s name is Toni Nime, who was a German expatriate. Kiran Desai is the youngest of her three siblings, two brothers and a sister.

Young Kiran Desai

Husband & Children

Kiran Desai is unmarried. [3] Tehelka

Relationships/Affairs

Kiran Desai is in a relationship with a Turkish novelist, screenwriter, academic and recipient of the 2006 Nobel Prize in Literature, Orhan Pamuk.

Kiran Desai with her boyfriend, Orhan Pamuk

‘The Inheritance of Loss,’ the second novel published by Kiran Desai in 2006. This novel was widely acknowledged and applauded by critics in the countries including the United States of America, Asia and Europe. Kiran Desai won the 2006 Booker Prize for the novel ‘The Inheritance of Loss.’ For the same novel, she earned the National Book Critics Circle Fiction Award, concurrently.

Kiran Desai was honoured with the ‘Berlin Prize Fellowship’ by the American Academy in Berlin, Germany, in 2013. In January 2015, Kiran Desai was listed as one of 20 “most influential” global Indian women by The Economic Times.

Books Written

• Hullabaloo in the Guava Orchard, the first novel by Kiran Desai published in 1998.
• The Inheritance of Loss, the second novel by Kiran Desai published in 2006.
• Generation 1. 5, a book written by Kiran Desai along with the writers, Suketu Mehta and Tom Finkelpearl.

Awards, Honours, Achievements

She received the ‘Man Booker Prize’ in 2006 for the novel ‘The Inheritance of Loss,’ and the ‘Betty Trask Award’ in 1998 for the book ‘Hullabaloo in the Guava Orchard.’

Facts/Trivia

• Kiran Desai’s musical choices are – Bach played by Glenn Gould and Pablo Casals to two masters of the guitar, three contrasting pieces of Indian music, and the Cape Verdean singer Cesaria Evora.
• Kiran Desai follows a non-vegetarian diet. [4] The New York Times
• Kiran Desai is titled as the youngest female writer to win the ‘Booker Prize award.’ [5] The New York Times

Kiran Desai with Salman Rushdie

• When “Hullabaloo in the Guava Orchard” was published in 1998, simultaneously, Kiran Desai received a masters degree in M.F.A in creative writing at Columbia University, USA.

I am asked why I never mention my father. It’s because everyone asks about my mother. I have two brothers and a sister and we talk a lot. I see my father every year and I stay in his house while in Delhi. He is my closest link to India and what it means to me. In January, when the first publication of The Inheritance of Loss was out, he was the first person who said, “I predict this book will win the Booker Prize. I have read the works of most of the Booker Prize winners through the years and this has everything for a Booker Prize.” I met him in New York before leaving for the awards, and he said the same thing again.”

Kiran Desai attended a biographical musical discussion programme on BBC Radio 3

Absolutely. I was convinced that I was mentally harming myself. I was so isolated in certain periods. For instance, last year around this time I didn’t see any human being at all for large periods of time. I went to my mother’s for two or three months to pull it all together and work really hard. Other than her, I didn’t see anyone for two or three months. I was literally scared of answering the phone, of talking to people. I was scared of the mailman coming to the door because I found it even hard to talk.”

It is and that makes it harder. You can criticise your stuff better than anyone else, you know what is going in your own mind and your own heart but to look at yourself in the mirror is very difficult.”

Anita is a deceptively quiet writer. Kiran is a little bit showier as a writer. There is a little more flamboyance in the prose.”

• Kiran Desai was 16 when her parents separated, and her mother shifted to America with her. Kiran received her initial school education from a convent school in Kalimpong, West Bengal, India, where the Desai family had a summer home.
• In America, Kiran attended high school in Amherst, Massachusetts. Initially, Kiran was enrolled at Bennington College, USA as she aimed to be a scientist; however, she opted for writing classes as her field of study.
• Kiran Desai took admission at Hollins College in Virginia, USA, for pursuing her higher studies. During her graduation from Hollins College, in the writing program, she began writing her first novel, “Hullabaloo in the Guava Orchard.”

Taking seven years of my being determinedly isolated. It almost didn’t get published in England. The British said it didn’t work. Nearly 10 houses rejected it until Hamish Hamilton bought it.”

Well, really just that I know I can write! Also, the book is selling much more than before. Also, more pirated copies than before!”

I thought my portrayal was sympathetic. But when you write about a certain group of people, the old argument immediately surfaces: do you have an obligation to portray someone in a heroic way? Of course, you don’t. It really comes down to free speech in the end – if you believe in that, you have to accept things. I mean, I get loads of criticism all the time and I could just as easily be offended by that.”

Kiran Desai with her mother, Anita Desai at a Literary festival in Mumbai

• In 2014, through a video interview, Kiran Desai opened up with her master plan and approaches she opted in the course of writing her novels. Additionally, she counselled and guided the budding writers in the video interview.

Novelists Anita Desai and Kiran Desai in Israel while attending an event

• In 2011, Kiran Desai shared her experiences through a video on her real-life experiences while writing her novel “The inheritance of Loss” that ultimately lead her to win the “Man Booker Award.”
• In 2018, at the Singapore Writers Festival, Kiran Desai along with the Scottish author Irvine Welsh and more than 390 writers and speakers, participated the event. Reportedly, it was a record that more than 390 writers and speakers participated in this event.

By now I’ve been working this way for decades. Writing has been my major activity, and while we were talking earlier about political movements and my feeling the need to become more involved, most of my life is about writing life. I had to fight hard to acquire the habit, and then eventually I could wake up in the morning and go straight to my desk without thinking about it. My life took on the rhythm of quiet.”

Furthermore, Kiran said that most of the writers had families and kids, and they had teaching and vacation life but she did not have the same. She focused on the point that writing was her life, and she was transferring her life into her writings. She remarked,

I work in the morning, I take a short break in the afternoon, and I usually work in the evening as well. I may take a night or two off, here and there, but mostly I work both times. So I have been over-successful, I would say, in transferring my life into my writing. Real-life is less vivid to me than the world of my work. The sacrifice, though, is huge. Most writers have families, and they have kids, and they have a teaching life, and they have a vacation life. I don’t. I have written. Writing is my life. So it’s been great for my work and probably not so good for my life.”

I read all different kinds of books, but I like Ichiguru’s work a lot and Kenzaburo Oe, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Narayan. One of my favourite books is Pedro Paramo by Juan Rulfo, which I read over and over again. I also read a lot of poetry.”

Yes, definitely. I love Truman Capote, Tennessee Williams, Flannery O’Connor. I read a lot of American writers. The publishing world is growing smaller, which is very nice.”

References [+] [−]

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Kiran Desai

• Non-Fiction
• Faber and Faber Ltd
• Hamish Hamilton Ltd

Kiran Desai was born in India in 1971 and grew up there before moving to England, aged fourteen years.

She was educated in India, England and the US. Her first novel, Hullabaloo in the Guava Orchard (1998) won a 1998 Betty Trask Award, and her second novel, The Inheritance of Loss (2006), set in the mid 1980s in a Himalayan village, won the 2006 Man Booker Prize for Fiction.

Critical perspective

As might be expected from the rich input of her cultural background, kiran desai, daughter of the author anita desai, is a born story-teller..

Her first novel, Hullabaloo in the Guava Orchard (1998), is a pacy, fresh look at life in the sleepy provincial town of Shahkot in India. The central character of the novel, Sampath Chawla, failed postal clerk and pathological dreamer, escapes from his work and his oppressive family to live in a guava tree. Here he spends his life snoozing, musing and eating the ever-more exotic meals cooked for him by his sociopathic mother. He begins to amaze his fellow townspeople by revealing intimate details about them gleaned from a bit of lazy letter-opening whilst still working at the post office and by spouting a series of truisms worthy of a Shakespearian fool, or Forrest Gump. Before long he becomes known as a local guru and attracts such a strong flow of visitors that opening hours have to be established in the orchard to allow him to rest.

Soon, commercialism, a recurrent theme in Desai’s work, takes over: Sampath’s fast-thinking, entrepreneurial father Mr Chawla, who at first despaired at his son’s inanity, now sees his chance to make the family’s fortune. He sets up his picturesque family in a compound around the guava tree that is soon lined with colourful advertisements for tailors, fizzy drinks, talcum powder and insect repellent. Visitors bring gifts that Mr Chawla can sell, the family bank account begins to grow and he looks at investment plans. All goes well until the arrival in the orchard of a group of langur monkeys who have developed a taste for alcohol and begin to terrorise the town. The tale continues, with a growing sense of impending doom, as the family and the various officials of the town try to resolve the monkey problem.

Like many important works of literature, the book can be read on several levels – as an inventive, fast-moving, delicious tale full of rich descriptions and marvellous comic cartoon-like personalities, but also as a deeper study of the pathos of familial misunderstanding, the ridiculousness of hero-worship, the unpredictability of commercialism and the ineptness of officialdom.

Many of these themes are explored further in Desai’s next novel, The Inheritance of Loss (2006) .  The story revolves around the inhabitants of a town in the north-eastern Himalayas, an embittered old judge, his granddaughter Sai, his cook and their rich array of relatives, friends and acquaintances and the effects on the lives of these people brought about by a Nepalese uprising. Running parallel with the story set in India we also follow the vicissitudes of the cook’s son Biju as he struggles to realise the American Dream as an immigrant in New York. 

Like its predecessor, this book abounds in rich, sensual descriptions. These can be sublimely beautiful, such as in the images of the flourishing of nature at the local convent in spring: 'Huge, spread-open Easter lilies were sticky with spilling antlers; insects chased each other madly through the sky, zip zip; and amorous butterflies, cucumber green, tumbled past the jeep windows into the deep marine valleys.' They can also be horrific, such as in descriptions of the protest march: 'One jawan was knifed to death, the arms of another were chopped off, a third was stabbed, and the heads of policemen came up on stakes before the station across from the bench under the plum tree, where the towns people had rested themselves in more peaceful times and the cook sometimes read his letters. A beheaded body ran briefly down the street, blood fountaining from the neck...' 

The Inheritance of Loss is much more ambitious than Hullabaloo in its spatial and emotional depth. It takes on huge subjects such as morality and justice, globalisation, racial, social and economic inequality, fundamentalism and alienation. It takes its reader on a see-saw of negative emotions. There is pathos - which often goes hand in hand with revulsion – for example in the description of the judge's adoration of his dog Mutt, the disappearance of which rocks his whole existence, set against his cruelty to his young wife. There is frequent outrage at the deprivation and poverty in which many of the characters live, including the cook’s son in America; and there is humiliation, for example in the treatment of Sai by her lover-turned-rebel, or Lola, who tries to stand up to the Nepalese bullies.

Against these strong emotions however, Desai expertly injects doses of comedy and buffoon-like figures. One of these is Biju's winsome friend Saeed, an African (Biju 'hated all black people but liked Saeed'), with a slyer and much more happy-go-lucky attitude to life. Whereas Biju finds it difficult to have a conversation even with the Indian girls to whom he delivers a takeaway meal, Saeed 'had many girls':

'"Oh myee God!! he said. Oh myee Gaaaawd! She keep calling me and calling me,” he clutched at head, “aaaiii...I don't know what to do!!”... ”It's those dreadlocks, cut them off and the girls will go.”' '“But I don't want them to go!”’

Much of the comedy also arises from the Indian misuse or over-use of the English language. ‘“Result unequivocal,” the young Judge wrote home to India on completing his university examinations in Britain. “What”, asked everyone, “does that mean?” It sounded as if there was a problem, because “un” words were negative words, those basically competent in the English agreed. But then (his father) consulted the assistant magistrate and they exploded with joy...'

Bose, the Judge’s friend from his university days, is a wonderfully optimistic but pompous individual, made all the more ridiculous by his over-use of British idioms – 'Cheeri-o, right-o, tickety boo, simply smashing, chin-chin, no siree, how’s that, bottoms up, I say!'

An original and modern aspect of Desai’s style is the almost poet-like use she makes of different print forms on the page: she uses italics for foreign words as if to emphasise their exoticness and untraslatability and capitals for emphasis when someone is expressing anger, surprise or disbelief (a natural development of the netiquette that to write in capitals is like shouting). She also exploits our modern mania for lists. In an age where our media is filled with top tens and top one hundreds – most voted-for politician, best-dressed woman, richest man etc. – Desai produces her own array of matter of fact but quite unnerving lists: the parts of their bodies which touch when Gyan and Sai kiss; the free gifts that you get from a charity if you make a donation to a cow shelter; the wide variety of puddings that the cook is able to make (this list is rattled off with no spaces, as if expressing both the urgency of the speaker to impress and his perplexity at the foreignness of English pudding names). One of the most thought-provoking lists is 'what the world thinks of Indians':

'In China, they hate them. In Hong Kong. In Germany. In Italy. In Japan. In Guam. In Singapore. Burma. South Africa. They don't like them. In Guadeloupe—they love us there? No.'

The build up of word on word, of country on country and the blank white of the space around the words – what better way could there be to describe the desolation of racial prejudice?

Amanda Thursfield, 2007

Bibliography

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Kiran Desai Biography, Books, and Similar Authors

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Kiran Desai

How to pronounce Kiran Desai: ki-run de-sigh (ki rhymes with the first two letters of king)

Kiran Desai Biography

Kiran Desai was born in India in 1971, she lived in Delhi until she was 14, then spent a year in England, before her family moved to the USA.  She completed her schooling in Massachusetts before attending Bennington College; Hollins University and Columbia University, where she studied creative writing, taking two years off to write Hullabaloo in the Guava Orchard . She first came to literary attention in 1997 when she was published in the New Yorker and in Mirrorwork , an anthology of 50 years of Indian writing edited by Salman Rushdie - Strange Happenings in the Guava Orchard was the closing piece.  In 1998, Hullabaloo in the Guava Orchard , which had taken four years to write, was published to good reviews.  She says, "I think my first book was filled with all that I loved most about India and knew I was in the inevitable process of losing. It was also very much a book that came from the happiness of realizing how much I loved to write." Eight years later, The Inheritance of Loss was published in early 2006, and won the 2006 Booker Prize.  When talking of the characters in The Inheritance of Loss , and of her own life, she says, "The characters of my story are entirely fictional, but these journeys (of her grandparents) as well as my own provided insight into what it means to travel between East and West and it is this I wanted to capture. The fact that I live this particular life is no accident. It was my inheritance."

This bio was last updated on 04/04/2016. In a perfect world, we would like to keep all of BookBrowse's biographies up to date, but with many thousands of lives to keep track of it's simply impossible to do. So, if the date of this bio is not recent, you may wish to do an internet search for a more current source, such as the author's website or social media presence. If you are the author or publisher and would like us to update this biography, send the complete text and we will replace the old with the new.

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Kiran Desai (winner of the 2006 Booker Prize for The Inheritance of Loss ) talks about her first novel, Hullabaloo in the Guava Orchard .

What was your process for writing this book--did you start with the characters or with the plot? I started with a very small idea, really. I'd read a story in the Times of India and heard about a character from many people, a man who was a very famous hermit in India who really did climb up a tree, who lived in a tree for many, many years, until he died. He died last year, I believe. So I began to wonder what it was about someone like this who would do something as extreme as to spend his life in a tree. So it started really with that character, and then the story built up around it. When I started writing it I had no idea what the story would be; I had no idea of the plot. It sort of gathered momentum and drew me along. It was an incredibly messy process and I don't know if it was the smartest way to go about it because this was my first book, so I had to teach myself how to write as I was writing it, and I don't know if I went about it the right way but I certainly had a lot of fun. It was very messy though--I had to throw out many pages--about half the book I think I ended up editing. Once I was aware of all the different ways to go, all the plot turns to take. So how did you ...

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Biography of Kiran Desai

Kiran Desai was born in Delhi, India, in 1971 to novelist Anita Desai. Anita Desai's writing ethic shaped Kiran Desai's upbringing. After growing up in Punjab and Mumbai, Desai's family moved to England and the United States, where Desai attended high school. She studied creative writing at Bennington College, Hollins University, and Columbia University.

In 1998, Desai's debut novel, Hullabaloo in the Guava Orchard , earned notice and accolades such as the Betty Trask Award. The book also received acclaim from prominent authors, including Salman Rushdie.

In 2006, Desai became the youngest woman to receive the Booker Prize for her second novel, The Inheritance of Loss , which also earned her the 2006 National Book Critics Circle Fiction Award. Desai later earned a 2013 Berlin Prize Fellowship at the American Academy in Berlin.

Desai currently lives in New York City and was named one of the most influential "global Indian women" in 2015.

Study Guides on Works by Kiran Desai

The inheritance of loss kiran desai.

The Inheritance of Loss is author Kiran Desai's second novel, published in 2006 by Atlantic Monthly Press and Hamish Hamilton. The Inheritance of Loss won numerous accolades, including the 2006 Booker Prize, the 2006 Vodafone Crossword Book Award,...

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BOOKS PAR EXCELLENCE

Kiran desai: a symphony of storytelling.

In the expansive universe of modern literature, Kiran Desai stands out like a guiding star. Her tales, woven with intricate layers of emotion and intellect, have become like timeless melodies, resonating in the collective consciousness of readers globally. With each story, she ventures into the labyrinth of human emotions, exploring the depths of displacement, the quest for identity, the strength of resilience, and the enduring flame of the human spirit. Desai's literary excellence is akin to a masterful painter, meticulously crafting each stroke, reflecting not just her esteemed lineage but also her deep-rooted passion and unparalleled skill in the art of storytelling.

Born to the illustrious author Anita Desai, Kiran inherited a legacy where stories were revered. However, she carved her path, forging a distinctive voice that resonates with authenticity and depth. Her childhood, marked by travels across continents, bestowed upon her a unique perspective, enriching her narratives with a tapestry of experiences and cultural nuances. These formative years, steeped in diverse landscapes and encounters, laid the groundwork for her compelling storytelling style.

Desai's inaugural masterpiece, "Hullabaloo in the Guava Orchard," emerged as a literary revelation, capturing the imaginations of readers worldwide. Set against the colorful backdrop of a bustling Indian town, the novel chronicles the odyssey of a young protagonist as he grapples with the intricate web of societal norms and expectations. Desai's storytelling prowess shines brilliantly as she seamlessly weaves elements of wit, sharp satire, and profound introspection into the tapestry of her narrative. Each page brims with her astute observations, illuminating the multifaceted dynamics of life within a close-knit community. The characters she conjures are vibrantly rendered, each pulsating with their unique quirks and dilemmas, thereby breathing palpable life into the tale. In crafting this intricate world, Desai not only celebrates the nuances of local Indian cultures but also touches upon themes and emotions that resonate on a universal scale, affirming her remarkable ability to bridge the gap between the particular and the universal in storytelling.

"The Inheritance of Loss" stands as a pivotal juncture in Kiran Desai's literary trajectory, propelling her into the limelight of literary excellence. This magnum opus unfolds against the breathtaking and formidable backdrop of the Himalayas, where nature's grandeur mirrors the intricate complexities of human existence. Desai, with her masterful storytelling prowess, artfully intertwines the destinies of her characters, crafting a vivid tableau of a society in transition. The narrative delves deep into the aftershocks of colonialism, exploring its enduring shadows and the ensuing struggles of identity in a rapidly changing world.

What further amplifies the novel's resonance is Desai's exquisite prose. Her words flow with a poetic cadence, capturing the nuances of emotion, longing, and the relentless quest for belonging. Readers and critics worldwide found themselves captivated by the profound themes coursing through the narrative, as Desai posed probing questions about heritage, displacement, and the universal human desire for understanding and connection.

The culmination of such literary brilliance was the conferral of the Man Booker Prize upon Desai. This prestigious accolade not only recognized her exceptional talent and contribution to literature but also emphasized the universal acclaim and relevance of her work on the global stage. Desai's "The Inheritance of Loss" remains a testament to the enduring power of storytelling to illuminate the depths of the human experience.

In addition to her novels, Desai's body of work underscores her adaptability and range. "The Artist of Disappearance," comprising a series of novellas, highlights her adeptness in delving into the intricacies of human feelings and life events. Every tale weaves together a rich blend of personalities, landscapes, and ideas, demonstrating Desai's acute insight and storytelling prowess. Her capacity to weave captivating tales spanning various styles solidifies her reputation as a masterful literary artist.

Desai's collaborations and contributions to anthologies further highlight her expansive literary landscape. Her writings, whether in the form of poignant short stories or insightful essays, resonate with depth, sensitivity, and wisdom. Desai's unique voice, characterized by its authenticity and resonance, continues to captivate readers across generations, reaffirming her position as a literary luminary.

Moreover, Desai's influence extends beyond the confines of her writings. As a literary ambassador, she ardently champions the transformative power of literature. She emphasizes its capacity to foster empathy, bridge cultural divides and ignite meaningful dialogues. Desai's unwavering commitment to nurturing emerging writers and promoting literary endeavours underscores her dedication to the broader literary community.

Within the vast landscape of modern literature, Kiran Desai's tales stand out, casting a luminous glow on the complexities of human life with elegance, discernment, and empathy. Her narratives, crafted with layers of feeling, sagacity, and humaneness, go beyond borders, striking a chord with audiences of diverse backgrounds and times. Desai's profound and textured literary contribution acts as a guiding light for emerging authors, urging them to delve into the limitless avenues of narrative artistry.

Kiran Desai's voyage through literature stands as a profound tribute to the timeless allure and elegance of tales. Her poignant storytelling has not merely embellished the literary realm but has also broadened our insights into human experiences. With the literary community keenly awaiting her upcoming creations, Kiran Desai's impact remains a beacon of inspiration and enlightenment, weaving an unforgettable mark on global literary artistry. The enduring essence of her narratives promises to enthral and echo through time, guaranteeing her influence spans across future generations.

- Sameer Gudhate

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Kiran Desai Books In Order

Publication order of standalone novels.

Kiran Desai is a literary fiction author that was born in Chandigarh, India in 1971. She would then attend John Connon and Cathedral School in Mumbai for her school education.

In 1993, she graduated from Bennington College in Vermont with her bachelor’s degree. Later on, she went to the private Hollins University where she got a creative writing M.F.A.

Desai was born to a literary family as Ashvin Desai her father is a well-known author in India while Anita Desai her mother is a Professor of Humanities and novelist based at MIT.

In 1998, Kiran Desai published “Hullabaloo in the Guava Orchard” her debut novel, which would go on to win the Betty Trask Award. For her novel, she would make the list of the youngest ever females to ever win the prize.

But it would be with the publication of the novel “The Inheritance of Loss” that she would really come into her own. For the latter novel, she was the winner of the National Book Critics Circle Fiction Award and the Man Booker Prize in 2006.

Unfortunately, Kiran Desai’s parents separated when she was sixteen and it was at this point that she immigrated to the United States with her. Initially, she had been studying at a convent school in India where the family had a summer home. In the United States, she went to an Amherst, Massachusetts-based high school. At first, she enrolled in scientific studies at Bennington College but soon after decided to take writing classes.

It was while she was doing the writing program at Hollins College that she started writing her debut novel “Hullabaloo in the Guava Orchard.” In an interview, Kiran said that it took her seven years to finish writing her novel “Inheritance in Loss.” She isolated herself from the world for years only for more than ten publishing houses to reject it. She was almost giving up but after seven years of hard work, she decided to trudge on.

It was finally accepted for publishing by Hamish Hamilton in 2007 and would go on to become a bestseller.

Kiran Desai was lucky enough to get her debut novel published just as she was graduating from Columbia University with her creative writing master’s degree.

Since that time, she has become a critically acclaimed author that has received praise from the likes of Salman Rushdie. Writing has now become an integral part of Kiran Desai’s life and she uses her experiences in the penning of her novels. She usually works in the morning, has a break in the afternoon, and then resumes writing in the evening. She sometimes will take a few days off when she does not have deadlines. So far it has worked great for her as she has become a bestselling author.

Kiran has said that it has not all been her as she has been influenced and inspired by other writers. Some of her favorite authors include Kenzaburo Oe, Ichiguru, Narayan, and Gabriel Garcia Marquez.

Her all-time favorite work has to be Juan Rulfo’s, “Pedro Paramo.” She has also been influenced by American authors such as Flannery O’Connor, Tennessee Williams, and Truman Capote.

Kiran Desai currently makes her home in the United States and is in a relationship with Orhan Pamuk, the Nobel Prize-winning novelist, screenwriter, and academic.

Kiran Desai’s novel “The Inheritance of Loss” is set in Shahkot, India, where the Chawla family could not have been more distressed.

Sampath their son has been causing all manner of trouble. Still, this work starts with the kid getting born, just as the village is coming from the tail end of one of the worst droughts in history.

Kulfi his mother half maddened by hunger and heat is only thinking of food. Her dreams of eating had only grown more extravagant the more her belly grew. Things had only gotten hotter over the months and she had grown desperate for some change. Finding an old box full of crayons she began drawing which caused her mother-in-law and husband to retreat from her presence as they feared that she was going insane.

Mr. Chawla her husband has always been uncomfortable with lethargy, tears, pains, and aches. He has for the longest time been afraid of the sticky humanness of things, and the messy and uncontrollable puddles of life. His discomfort with such things will come back to haunt him when his son becomes a young man ruled by emotion and has very little ambition or common sense.

His frustration comes to a head when the son loses his job at the post office following an embarrassing stip tease performance at his boss’s daughter’s wedding.

Refusing to be confined to the house, Sampath runs away and hides in the branches of a guava tree in the outer suburbs. But this flight would turn out to have a very profitable silver lining for his father.

“Hullabaloo in the Guava Orchard” is the stunning second work by Kiran Desai that is set in India during the 1980s. It is a time when the Nepalese people have been agitating for an independent state.

A retired Cambridge-educated judge named Jemubhai Popatlal makes his home in Kalimpong which overlooks the Himalayas. He lives there with only Sai his orphaned granddaughter and their cook.

Most of their neighbors who are Anglophiles seem to be oblivious to their social standing until the area is hit by a surge of unrest. The retired judge with his English biscuits and his hunting rifles is soon a target of the violent mobs. The revolution not only threatens their lives but also interrupts the steamy fledgling romance between Sai the sixteen-year-old and Gyan her Nepalese tutor.

On the other hand, is Biju the cook’s son who left Nepal a few years past, and news of his miserable state in New York has been filtering back home.

All the characters have been struggling with the forces of modernization and their cultural identity. They do this even as they try to maintain the flimsy emotional connections they have with each other.

It makes for an illuminating work that showcases the overwhelming desire for a better life and the ambiguities inherent in post-colonialism.

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All Kiran Desai Books In Order

Kiran Desai is an Indian author. Her novel ‘The Inheritance of Loss’ won the 2006 Man Booker Prize and the National Book Critics Circle Fiction Award. Wikipedia

Newest To Oldest Order Of All Kiran Desai Books

1. The Inheritance of Loss

The Inheritance of Loss is a 2005 novel by Kiran Desai.

2. Hullabaloo in the Guava Orchard

Hullabaloo in the Guava Orchard is a 1998 novel by Kiran Desai.

Other Authors

Kiran Desai Age, Boyfriend, Husband, Children, Family, Biography & More

Some Lesser Known Facts About Kiran Desai

Kiran Desai is an Indian author and novelist who won the 2006 Booker Prize for her novel ‘The Inheritance of Loss.’ Around the same year, for the same novel, she received the National Book Critics Circle Fiction Award.

• Kiran Desai earned a masters degree in M.F.A at Columbia University, USA, just after her novel “Hullabaloo in the Guava Orchard” was published in 1998.

Kiran Desai with Salman Rushdie

I am asked why I never mention my father. It’s because everyone asks about my mother. I have two brothers and a sister and we talk a lot. I see my father every year and I stay in his house while in Delhi. He is my closest link to India and what it means to me. In January, when the first publication of The Inheritance of Loss was out, he was the first person who said, “I predict this book will win the Booker Prize. I have read the works of most of the Booker Prize winners through the years and this has everything for a Booker Prize.” I met him in New York before leaving for the awards, and he said the same thing again.”

I really like working in the kitchen; I find that wherever I am I work near the kitchen or in the kitchen itself. I can constantly make myself little things to eat or cups of tea; I find it’s a perfect balance, in that I can write a bit, eat a cookie, and then I write a bit more, eat some ice cream. Reward me– it’s constant rewards. And I work best in the morning, as soon as I get out of bed I start writing, and late at night. I have dead space in the afternoon, which I think comes from growing up with an afternoon siesta; my brain just shuts off from about two to five.”

• In 2013, Kiran Desai was awarded the ‘Berlin Prize Fellowship’ at the American Academy in Berlin, Germany.

Anita is a deceptively quiet writer. Kiran is a little bit showier as a writer. There is a little more flamboyance in the prose.”

Young Kiran Desai

• After reaching America, Kiran Desai attended high school in Amherst, Massachusetts. Earlier she intended to be a scientist and went to Bennington College, USA, but later, she took a writing class as her course of study.
• For higher education, Kiran Desai enrolled at Hollins College in Virginia, USA, for a graduate writing program and began writing her first novel, “Hullabaloo in the Guava Orchard.”

Taking seven years of my being determinedly isolated. It almost didn’t get published in England. The British said it didn’t work. Nearly 10 houses rejected it until Hamish Hamilton bought it.”

Well, really just that I know I can write! Also, the book is selling much more than before. Also, more pirated copies than before!”

I thought my portrayal was sympathetic. But when you write about a certain group of people, the old argument immediately surfaces: do you have an obligation to portray someone in a heroic way? Of course, you don’t. It really comes down to free speech in the end – if you believe in that, you have to accept things. I mean, I get loads of criticism all the time and I could just as easily be offended by that.”

Kiran Desai with her mother, Anita Desai at a Literary festival in Mumbai

• In 2014, Kiran Desai gave an interview on the sort of novels she had written, and the strategy she adopted while started writing the novel books. She further added her advice to the young and new writers in the video.

• In an interview, through a video, Kiran Desai elucidated her journey to write award-winning novels.

• The Economic Times titled Kiran Desai as one of 20 “most influential” global Indian women in January 2015.

Novelists Anita Desai and Kiran Desai

• In 2017, Kiran Desai shared her experiences through a video on her real-life experiences while writing her novel “The inheritance of Loss” that ultimately lead her to win the “Man Booker Award.”

By now I’ve been working this way for decades. Writing has been my major activity, and while we were talking earlier about political movements and my feeling the need to become more involved, most of my life is about writing life. I had to fight hard to acquire the habit, and then eventually I could wake up in the morning and go straight to my desk without thinking about it. My life took on the rhythm of quiet.”

She further added that writing was her life, and she took small breaks in the afternoons as she wrote books from the morning till evening. She explained that she sacrificed her social life a huge while writing the books as she avoided family life too. She stated that she transferred her life into her writings. She said,

I work in the morning, I take a short break in the afternoon, and I usually work in the evening as well. I may take a night or two off, here and there, but mostly I work both times. So I have been over-successful, I would say, in transferring my life into my writing. Real-life is less vivid to me than the world of my work. The sacrifice, though, is huge. Most writers have families, and they have kids, and they have a teaching life, and they have a vacation life. I don’t. I have written. Writing is my life. So it’s been great for my work and probably not so good for my life.”

I read all different kinds of books, but I like Ichiguru’s work a lot and Kenzaburo Oe, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Narayan. One of my favourite books is Pedro Paramo by Juan Rulfo, which I read over and over again. I also read a lot of poetry.”

She was further asked if American writers influenced her writings. She replied,

Yes, definitely. I love Truman Capote, Tennessee Williams, Flannery O’Connor. I read a lot of American writers. The publishing world is growing smaller, which is very nice.”

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Kiran desai's journey of storytelling & narrative mastery.

Kiran Desai is an Indian-born American writer who is an internationally acclaimed and award-winning author. She was born on 3rd September, 1971, in Chandigarh, India. The first book written by her, ‘Hullabaloo in the Guava Orchard’, was released in 1998. She wrote her second book, ‘The Inheritance of Loss’, which went on to become a worldwide bestseller. She won acclaim across the globe for her two novels, ’Hullabaloo in the Guava Orchard,’ which earned her the Betty Trask Award in 1998, and ’The Inheritance of Loss,’ which earned her the ’Booker Award’ in 2006. For her novels, she also received the National Book Critics Circle Fiction Award. She is a remarkable woman who can view and understand life in various contexts. 

Early Life and Family 

Kiran Desai's early life was a mix of struggles and changes. When Kiran Desai's parents divorced, her mother moved to America with her. Kiran was 16 years old at the time. The first few years of Kiran's  She Kiran initially enrolled at Bennington College in the United States to become a scientist, but she decided to focus on writing instead.

She studied at Hollins College in Virginia to further pursue her education. After completing the writing programme at Hollins College, she started working on her debut book, ‘Hullabaloo in the Guava Orchard.’

Education 

With regards to her education, Kiran Desai claimed that writing was her priority and that it occupied the majority of her life. She admitted that she had to struggle initially to maintain the writing habit that eventually allowed her to wake up and head right to her desk without giving it a second thought. 

Kiran Desai, the novelist Anita Desai's daughter, lived in India until she was 15 years old, at which point her family relocated to England and later the United States. After completing her undergraduate studies at Bennington College in 1993, she went on to earn two MFAs, one from Columbia University in New York City and the other from Hollins University in Roanoke, Virginia.

At the same time as ‘Hullabaloo in the Guava Orchard’ was published in 1998, Kiran Desai graduated from Columbia University in the United States with a master's degree in MFA in creative writing. She was also a professor at MIT. 

Passion for Writing 

Kiran's love for writing was insane. Her first novel took her four years to complete, and she claims, "I believe that everything I cherished about India and knew I would inevitably lose was captured in my first book. It was also a work that was mostly inspired by my joy at finding how much I enjoyed writing." The thought that was put in the novel talks so much about her connection with the country and a deep resonance of belongingness. 

Her family supported her work in the best way possible. Kiran claims that her father and siblings had a significant impact on her work. A Booker Award was predicted by her father, she said in an interview. She expressed that she met her father before leaving for the award ceremony in New York, and her father affirmed the same thing again to her. She explained what happened.

Her Work as a Writer 

In the contemporary world, one of the well-known female writers is Kiran Desai (1971–present).

When Kiran Desai's book 'The Inheritance of Loss,' which was published in 2006, won the Man Booker Prize, she gained immediate notoriety. The characters in the story are the citizens of a town in the north eastern Himalayas.

After completing her studies, she took a two-year break before writing her first book, ’Hullabaloo in the Guava Orchard,’ which was released in 1998 by Faber and Faber.

She received the Betty Trask Award for her debut book, making her one of the youngest female authors in history to do so. The Society of Authors bestows the Betty Trask Award on authors under the age of 35 for their best new books. Established in 1884, the Society of Authors is a trade union award for professional authors, illustrators and literary translators in the United Kingdom.

The American Academy in Berlin, Germany, presented Kiran Desai with the ’Berlin Prize Fellowship’ in 2013. It was announced in January 2015 that Kiran Desai was one of the 20 ’most influential’ Indian women in the world, according to The Economic Times.

Famous Novels and Books 

Kiran Desai, the daughter of author Anita Desai, is a natural storyteller, as one might anticipate given the varied influences of her cultural upbringing.

Her debut book, ‘Hullabaloo in the Guava Orchard’ (1998), is a fast-paced, look at life in the Indian province of Shahkot, a quiet hamlet.

In terms of scope and depth of feeling, ‘The Inheritance of Loss’ is significantly more ambitious than the first novel. It addresses important issues including fundamentalism, alienation, globalisation, racial, social and economic inequality, as well as morality and justice. It sends the reader on a rollercoaster of unfavourable feelings.

Among Kiran Desai's hits is Generation 1.5, a collaboration with Suketu Mehta and Tom Finkelpearl.

Achievements 

In addition to receiving the Man Booker Award for her book ‘The Inheritance of Loss’ in 2006, Kiran also received the National Book Critics Circle Fiction Award the same year.

The book has been included on the shortlists for the 2007 Orange Prize for Fiction, Kiriyama Pacific Rim Book Prize and British Book Awards Decibel Writer of the Year. She won the Betty Trask Award for her first book, ‘Hullabaloo in the Guava Orchard.’

How She is a Source of Inspiration? 

Kiran Desai is an inspiration in herself. She teaches the deep meaning behind writing. Writing is not only words but has lots of feelings and hidden meanings in it. She had a lengthy history of being identified as the gifted child of renowned author Anita Desai. ‘Hullabaloo in the Guava Orchard’, Kiran Desai's debut novel, was widely praised upon its publication in 1998 and even received the Betty Trask Award from the Society of Authors, a British organisation. However, it was her second novel, ‘The Inheritance of Loss,’ which was released in 2006 that brought her to the attention of the world. Both the Man Booker Prize and the Best Fiction Award from the National Book Critics Circle were given to it that year.

Conclusion 

Kiran Desai is a true patriot. Desai, who resides in the US, passionately flaunts her Indian heritage. Her own experiences and what she has observed in the world around her have had a significant impact on her.

Her diverse upbringing has given her a fairly international outlook with an underlying Indian sensibility. In her books, Kiran employs the techniques of magic realism and socio-cultural realism. All these reflect how purely Kiran Desai can inspire one. 

For what is Kiran Desai well-known?

‘The Inheritance of Loss’ (2006), the second book by Kiran Desai, an Indian-born American author who was born in New Delhi, India, on September 3, 1971, became a bestseller internationally and garnered awards.

Where and when was Kiran Desai born? 

Kiran Desai was born on 3rd September in the year 1971 in Chandigarh.

From where did Kiran Desai do her schooling? 

Kiran attended school in Massachusetts and pursued studies in creative writing at Columbia University, Hollins University in Virginia, and Bennington College in the United States.

Which literary prize did ‘The Inheritance of Loss’ by Kiran Desai take home?

This humorous and politically astute family drama about a serene retirement under threat from all sides by Kiran Desai earned her the Man Booker Prize in 2006.

Which Award did she receive for her debut book? 

Kiran Desai received The Betty Trask Award for her debut book. 

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Kiran Desai

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Biography of Kiran Desai | Life and Works

Biography of Kiran Desai: Indian author Kiran Desai was born in Delhi on 3 September 1971. She is the daughter of Indian novelist Anita Desai. Kiran spent her early years in Punjab and Mumbai and studied at Cathedral and John Connon School. Later, at the age of 14, she and her mother lived in England for a year and then moved to the United States. She studied creative writing at Bennington College, Hollins University, and Columbia University.

In 1998, Kiran Desai published her first novel Hullabaloo in the Guava Orchard and received praise from writers such as Salman Rushdie. The book won the Betty Trask Award. It is a prize awarded by the Society of Authors for best new novels by citizens of the Commonwealth of Nations under age 35. In 2006, Desai published her second book The Inheritance of Loss, which was widely praised by critics throughout Europe, the United States, and Asia. She became the youngest-ever woman to win the popular Booker Prize at just 35. This record was broken later in 2013 by Eleanor Catton. In 2013, she was awarded Berlin Prize Fellowship at the American Academy in Berlin. She lives in New York City. In 2017, she stated that she had been working on a new novel about a young Indian woman out in the world.

Hullabaloo in the Guava Orchard

Published in 1998, Hullabaloo in the Guava Orchard is set in the Indian village of Shahkot, Punjab. The story follows the exploits of a young man named Sampath Chawla who is trying to avoid the duties of adult life. Sampath is fed up with his life in Shahkot. So he goes to a guava orchard and settles himself in one of the guava trees. He uses all the gossip he learned while working at the post office to make people believe that he is a clairvoyant and soon Sampath became a known holy man. Desai wrote this book on a basis of a true story of a man named Kapila Pradhan who lived up a tree for 15 years. There are similarities between Kapila Pradhan’s life in the tree and the novel.

The Inheritance of Loss

The Inheritance of Loss is the second novel by Desai, published in 2006. It focuses on the lives of Biju and Sai. Sai is an orphan living in Kalimpong with her maternal grandfather named Jemubhai Patel, the cook, and a pet dog Mutt. Biju is an Indian living in the US illegally. He is the son of the cook who works at Sai’s house. Sai’s father was a Zoroastrian orphan and her mother was a Gujarati. The novel takes place in 1986 and Desai alternates the narration of the novel between the points of view of Biju and Sai. Biju is struggling to make a new life for him which contrasts with Sai, an anglicized Indian girl residing in India with her grandfather.

The Inheritance of Loss depicts the tensions of past and present and also deals with the internal conflicts within India. Desai writes of rejection and yet represents the awe of the English way of living, the squalor of residing in India, and the money-making opportunities in America. Through the character of Sai’s grandfather, Desai comments on the leading Indians who are so anglicized or white-washed that they are forgetful of the traditional Indian lifestyle. Jemubhai Patel is disgusted with Indian customs and ways so much that he eats chapatis with a fork and knife. He disdains other Indians including his father with whom he has no ties and his wife whom he left at his father’s house after torturing her. Despite all his adopted mannerisms and education, Patel was never entirely accepted by the British. The primary themes of this book are migration, between past and present, and living between two worlds. This book has won several awards including the Booker Prize, the 2006 Vodafone Crossword Book Award, and the 2007 National Book Critics Circle Fiction Award.

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Kiran Desai

1971 - Today

Kiran Desai (born 3 September 1971) is an Indian author. Her novel The Inheritance of Loss won the 2006 Man Booker Prize and the National Book Critics Circle Fiction Award . Read more on Wikipedia

Since 2007, the English Wikipedia page of Kiran Desai has received more than 782,717 page views. Her biography is available in 53 different languages on Wikipedia (up from 50 in 2019) . Kiran Desai is the 6,899th most popular writer (down from 6,144th in 2019) , the 1,135th most popular biography from India (down from 902nd in 2019) and the 133rd most popular Indian Writer .

Memorability Metrics

Page Views (PV)

Historical Popularity Index (HPI)

Languages Editions (L)

Effective Languages (L*)

Coefficient of Variation (CV)

Notable Works

Among writers.

Among writers , Kiran Desai ranks 6,899 out of 7,302 .  Before her are Raja Rao , Benjamin Jowett , Sayed Kashua , Sandi Toksvig , Abdourahman Waberi , and Richard Flanagan . After her are Ishmael Reed , Shobhaa De , Robert B. Spencer , François Bégaudeau , Alice Dunbar Nelson , and Paul Attanasio .

Most Popular Writers in Wikipedia

1908 - 2006

Rank: 6,893

Benjamin Jowett

1817 - 1893

Rank: 6,894

Sayed Kashua

1975 - Present

Rank: 6,895

Sandi Toksvig

1958 - Present

Rank: 6,896

Abdourahman Waberi

1965 - Present

Rank: 6,897

Richard Flanagan

1961 - Present

Rank: 6,898

1971 - Present

Rank: 6,899

Ishmael Reed

1938 - Present

Rank: 6,900

1948 - Present

Rank: 6,901

Robert B. Spencer

1962 - Present

Rank: 6,902

François Bégaudeau

Rank: 6,903

Alice Dunbar Nelson

1875 - 1935

Rank: 6,904

Paul Attanasio

1959 - Present

Rank: 6,905

Contemporaries

Among people born in 1971 , Kiran Desai ranks 650 .  Before her are Leisha Hailey , Gustavo Méndez , Masashi Hamauzu , Joel Casamayor , Pia Olsen Dyhr , and Raül Romeva . After her are Bobby Lee , François Bégaudeau , Noel Hogan , Manuel Beltrán , Eddie Jones , and Daniel Sunjata .

Others Born in 1971

Leisha Hailey

Gustavo Méndez

SOCCER PLAYER

Masashi Hamauzu

Joel Casamayor

Pia Olsen Dyhr

Raül Romeva

Manuel Beltrán

Eddie Jones

BASKETBALL PLAYER

Daniel Sunjata

Among people born in India , Kiran Desai ranks 1,135 out of 1,861 .  Before her are Richard Allen (1902) , Raja Rao (1908) , Nawazuddin Siddiqui (1974) , Pawan Kumar Chamling (1950) , Deepti Naval (1952) , and Vijaya Mehta (1934) . After her are Shobhaa De (1948) , Asaduddin Owaisi (1969) , Lillete Dubey (1953) , Salabat Jung (1718) , Sadashiv Amrapurkar (1950) , and Tina Ambani (1957) .

Others born in India

Richard Allen

1902 - 1969

Rank: 1,129

Rank: 1,130

Nawazuddin Siddiqui

1974 - Present

Rank: 1,131

Pawan Kumar Chamling

1950 - Present

Rank: 1,132

Deepti Naval

1952 - Present

Rank: 1,133

Vijaya Mehta

1934 - Present

Rank: 1,134

Rank: 1,135

Rank: 1,136

Asaduddin Owaisi

1969 - Present

Rank: 1,137

Lillete Dubey

1953 - Present

Rank: 1,138

Salabat Jung

1718 - Present

Rank: 1,139

Sadashiv Amrapurkar

1950 - 2014

Rank: 1,140

Tina Ambani

1957 - Present

Rank: 1,141

Among WRITERS In India

Among writers born in India , Kiran Desai ranks 133 .  Before her are Ali Sardar Jafri (1913) , Nayantara Sahgal (1927) , Bharati Mukherjee (1940) , Toru Dutt (1856) , Krishna Hutheesing (1907) , and Raja Rao (1908) . After her are Shobhaa De (1948) , Kamala Markandaya (1924) , Rupi Kaur (1992) , Ram Swarup (1920) , Sarojini Sahoo (1956) , and Aravind Adiga (1974) .

Indian born Writers

Ali Sardar Jafri

1913 - 2000

Nayantara Sahgal

1927 - Present

Bharati Mukherjee

1940 - 2017

1856 - 1877

Krishna Hutheesing

1907 - 1967

Kamala Markandaya

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