Vikas Swarup

Vikas Swarup (1961-Present) is one of the leading Indian novelists whose contribution in the literary field cannot be described in words. Swarup gained instant popularity with his first novel titled Q & A. 

The book achieved much popularity both within and outside the country and has been translated into forty-three different languages.

Childhood Life

Vikas Swarup

Vikas was born in Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh into a family of lawyers. He began his early schooling at Boys’ High School and College at Allahabad. Later Vikas pursued in subjects like Psychology, History and Philosophy. 

Vikas joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1986. Currently he is posted in Japan as India’s Consul-General. He is married to Aparna and the couple is blessed with two sons- Aditya and Varun.

Literary Work 

His first novel is titled Q & A in which the plot revolves around the life of a poor waiter who becomes the winner of the biggest quiz reality show. The book achieved much popularity both within and outside the country and has been translated into forty-three different languages. 

It was also shortlisted for the Best First Book by the Commonwealth Writer’s Prize. Nominated for 10 Oscars and achiever of several Golden Globe Awards, the Indian movie Slumdog Millionaire is based on this book. 

Vikas’s second novel titled Six Suspects which was released on July 28, 2008 has also been translated into more than 25 languages.

Swarup has also participated in many prestigious literary festivals such as the Oxford Literary Festival, the Kitap Festival in New Delhi, the Jaipur Literature Festival in India and the Sydney Writer’s Festival among others. 

Apart from being a writer and a diplomat Vikas has also written for some of the famous magazines like TIME, The Guardian, The Telegraph (UK), Outlook and Liberation (France).

Awards and achievements

Vikas Swarup has been awarded the degree of Doctor of Literature and Philosophy on Swarup by the University of South Africa on 21st September in 2010. 

He has also received the US-India Business Council’s Lifetime Achievement Award for ‘ Contributing to the Cultural Ties that Bind’ on June 16, 2009.  

He was also the winner of Best Film for the year 2009 at the Academy Awards, Golden Globe Awards and BAFTA Awards.

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