R.K. Narayan

Full Name: R.K. Narayan [Rasipuram Krishnaswami Iyer Narayanaswami]
Nationality:

Profession: Novelist
Why Famous: Best known for his works set in the fictional South Indian town of Malgudi. He is one of three leading figures of early Indian literature in English (alongside Mulk Raj Anand and Raja Rao) and is credited with bringing the genre to the rest of the world.

Narayan broke through with the help of his mentor and friend, Graham Greene, who was instrumental in getting publishers for Narayan's first four books, including the semi-autobiographical trilogy of "Swami and Friends", "The Bachelor of Arts" and "The English Teacher".

Born: October 10, 1906
Birthplace: Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Star Sign: Libra

Died: May 13, 2001 (aged 94)