In which year did Anita Desai's novel, Clear Light of Day, make the Booker Prize shortlist?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B
Explanation
Answer: 1980.
Explanation —
The novel Clear Light of Day by the renowned Indian author Anita Desai was shortlisted for the prestigious Booker Prize in the year 1980. This novel tells the story of a middle-class family in Old Delhi, depicting the post-Partition era and the complex psychological and emotional bonds shared among siblings.
Throughout her career, Anita Desai has been shortlisted for the Booker Prize a total of three times: in 1980 for this very novel, in 1984 for In Custody, and in 1999 for Fasting, Feasting. Although she did not succeed in winning the award, she has been honored with the 'Sahitya Akademi Award' and the 'Padma Bhushan' for her contributions to Indian English literature.
Additional Points —
1984: In this year, In Custody was shortlisted; it was later adapted into a film by Merchant Ivory.
Anita Desai: She received the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1978 for her novel Fire on the Mountain.
Kiran Desai: Anita Desai's daughter, who won the Booker Prize in 2006 for The Inheritance of Loss.
Potential Exam Questions and Answers —
Question: Which of Anita Desai's novels was nominated for the Booker Prize in 1999?
Answer: Fasting, Feasting.
Question: Who was the first author of Indian origin to win the Booker Prize?
Answer: V.S. Naipaul (in 1971 for In a Free State).