Kiran Desai

Novelist

Indian Chandigarh

Quick Info

ProfessionNovelist
NationalityIndian
Date of Birth03/09/1971
Age54 years
BirthplaceChandigarh

Latest News about Kiran Desai

01/09/2025

Kiran Desai published her long-awaited third novel, The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny, in 2025 after nearly two decades of work. The 688-page multigenerational love story explores themes of multiculturalism, race, class, immigration, postcolonialism, and family dynamics, set across India and the United States. It follows star-crossed lovers in a globalized world and was released by Hogarth, an imprint of Random House Publishing Group.

01/09/2025

Kiran Desai's novel The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny was shortlisted for the 2025 Booker Prize. This marks a significant return for the author, whose previous novel The Inheritance of Loss won the 2006 Booker Prize. The shortlisting highlights renewed critical acclaim for her work after a 19-year gap between novels.

Do you like Kiran Desai?

You can vote only once.

Bio/Wiki

ProfessionNovelist
Famous ForReceiving recognition worldwide with her two novels named 'Hullabaloo in the Guava Orchard' and 'The Inheritance of Loss' that led to win her 'The Booker Award.'

Physical Stats & More

Eye ColorBlack
Hair ColorBlack

Educational Qualification(s)

SchoolCathedral and John Connon School
College/UniversityBennington College, Hollins University, and Columbia University

Personal Life

Date of Birth03/09/1971
Age (as of 2023)52 Years
BirthplaceChandigarh, India
Zodiac signVirgo
NationalityIndian
HometownDelhi
Food HabitNon-Vegetarian

Relationships & More

Marital StatusUnmarried
Affair(s)/Boyfriend(s)Orhan Pamuk

Family

FatherAshvin Desai
MotherAnita Desai
SiblingsTwo brothers and a sister

Career

Notable Works
  • Hullabaloo in the Guava Orchard (a novel by Kiran Desai published in 1998)
  • The Inheritance of Loss (the second novel by Kiran Desai published in 2006)
  • Generation 1.5 (written along with the writers, Suketu Mehta and Tom Finkelpearl)
  • The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny (novel published in 2025)
Awards, Honours, Achievements
  • 2006: Man Booker Prize for her novel 'The Inheritance of Loss'
  • 1998: Betty Trask Award for her book 'Hullabaloo in the Guava Orchard'
  • 2006: National Book Critics Circle Fiction Award for 'The Inheritance of Loss'
  • 2009: Columbia University Medal for Excellence
  • 2015: Named one of 20 most influential global Indian women by The Economic Times

Favourites

Musical ChoicesBach 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

Some Lesser Known Facts

1. Kiran Desai is an accomplished Indian author and novelist who won the prestigious 2006 Booker Prize for her book 'The Inheritance of Loss.'
2. She holds the title of being the youngest female writer to have been honored with the Booker Prize award.
3. Kiran Desai pursued her Masters in Fine Arts (M.F.A) from Columbia University in the USA, soon after her first novel 'Hullabaloo in the Guava Orchard' was published in 1998.
4. Her debut novel, 'Hullabaloo in the Guava Orchard,' released in 1998, received high praise and recognition from renowned Indian authors, including Salman Rushdie.
5. In 1998, Kiran Desai's 'Hullabaloo in the Guava Orchard' was the recipient of the Betty Trask Award for its literary excellence.
6. 'The Inheritance of Loss,' published in 2006, was Kiran Desai's second novel, which garnered significant acclaim across Asia, Europe, and the United States, receiving accolades from critics in these regions.
Information on this page is collected from public sources and may not be 100% accurate. Report an error
Scroll to Top
Home Actors Sports Business