Quick Info
| Profession | Novelist |
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| Nationality | Indian |
| Date of Birth | 03/09/1971 |
| Age | 54 years |
| Birthplace | New Delhi, India |
Latest News about Kiran Desai
23/09/2025
Kiran Desai published her third novel, The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny, on September 23, 2025, marking her return after nearly two decades since The Inheritance of Loss. The 688-page multigenerational story follows two young Indian immigrants in the United States navigating themes of race, class, immigration, and family dynamics, published by Hogarth (Random House) and Hamish Hamilton (Penguin).
01/09/2025
The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny was shortlisted for the 2025 Booker Prize, bringing renewed critical attention to Desai whose previous novel won the 2006 Booker Prize. The shortlisting highlighted her major return to fiction after a long gap between novels.
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Bio/Wiki
| Famous For | Receiving worldwide recognition for her novels Hullabaloo in the Guava Orchard and The Inheritance of Loss, which won the Booker Prize. |
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Physical Stats & More
| Eye Color | Black |
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| Hair Color | Black |
Educational Qualification(s)
| School | Cathedral and John Connon School |
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| College/University | Bennington College, Hollins University, and Columbia University |
Personal Life
| Age (as of 2023) | 52 Years |
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| Food Habit | Non-Vegetarian |
Relationships & More
| Marital Status | Unmarried |
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| Affair(s)/Boyfriend(s) | Orhan Pamuk |
Family
| Father | Ashvin Desai |
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| Mother | Anita Desai |
| Siblings | Two brothers and a sister |
Career
| Notable Works |
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| Awards, Honours, Achievements |
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Favourites
| Musical Choices | 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 |
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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. |