In Indian mythological retellings, who is the author of the book "Jaya" which narrates stories from the Mahabharata?

Introduction / Context:
"Jaya" is a popular retelling of the Mahabharata written in modern prose, enriched with illustrations and interpretations. The full title often appears as "Jaya: An Illustrated Retelling of the Mahabharata". The author is Devdutt Pattanaik, known for simplifying complex Indian myths for contemporary readers. This question examines knowledge of Indian mythological literature and the ability to link a widely read modern classic with its writer.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The title is "Jaya", associated with the Mahabharata.
• The book presents stories and interpretations from this epic.
• The options are Sudeep Nagarkar, Devdutt Pattanaik, R. K. Narayan and Aravind Adiga.
• We assume familiarity with major contemporary interpreters of Hindu epics.

Concept / Approach:
The concept is to identify the correct author by matching the genre and style. Devdutt Pattanaik is a mythologist and writer who has authored multiple books on Indian mythology, including "Jaya". R. K. Narayan did write an earlier prose version of the Mahabharata, but under a different title, "The Mahabharata", not "Jaya". Sudeep Nagarkar and Aravind Adiga write in different genres, mainly romance or realist fiction. Therefore, connecting "Jaya" with Devdutt Pattanaik is the accurate match.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recognize that "Jaya" is an illustrated retelling of the Mahabharata for modern readers. Step 2: Recall that Devdutt Pattanaik has produced several accessible books on Indian mythology, including "Jaya", "Sita", and works on various deities. Step 3: Compare this information with R. K. Narayan, who is famous for Malgudi stories and did produce a prose Mahabharata but not under the title "Jaya". Step 4: Note that Sudeep Nagarkar writes contemporary romances and Aravind Adiga writes social and political fiction like "The White Tiger", neither fitting the description of this mythological retelling. Step 5: Conclude that Devdutt Pattanaik is the correct author of "Jaya".

Verification / Alternative check:
To verify, bring to mind the book cover artwork that typically shows stylized drawings of Mahabharata characters with Devdutt Pattanaik's name clearly printed on it. Bookstores often place "Jaya" along with his other mythological titles. Reviews and interviews about the book consistently present Pattanaik as the author. Additionally, reading lists on Indian mythology often categorize "Jaya" under his works, not under the works of Sudeep Nagarkar, R. K. Narayan or Aravind Adiga. These repeated associations reinforce that option B is correct.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Sudeep Nagarkar is mostly known for youth oriented romance novels in contemporary settings and has not written "Jaya", therefore option A is incorrect. R. K. Narayan did write a prose version of the Mahabharata but it carries a different title and style, so attributing "Jaya" to him would be inaccurate, making option C wrong. Aravind Adiga focuses on modern social issues and is not a mythological reteller, so option D is also incorrect. Only Devdutt Pattanaik matches the style, subject and title of the book in question.

Common Pitfalls:
A typical pitfall is to recall vaguely that R. K. Narayan wrote about the Mahabharata and then mistakenly select his name for any related title. Another is to confuse general Indian authors with specialized mythologists. To avoid this, candidates should remember that Devdutt Pattanaik's works often have short, evocative titles like "Jaya" and "Sita" and are accompanied by his own illustrations, while R. K. Narayan is more associated with Malgudi and simpler prose narratives of the epics under straightforward titles. These distinctions help prevent mix ups in exams.

Final Answer:
Devdutt Pattanaik