In English literature, who wrote the classic novel "A Passage to India"?

Introduction / Context:
This question focuses on classic English literature dealing with colonial India. "A Passage to India" is an important twentieth century novel that examines the complexities of British rule and social relations between Indians and the British. General knowledge and literature sections in many exams often include this title, so knowing its author is essential.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The novel "A Passage to India" is named.
• Four possible authors are given: Anita Desai, Khushwant Singh, Mark Twain and E. M. Forster.
• Exactly one of these wrote the novel.

Concept / Approach:
"A Passage to India" is a well known work by British author E. M. Forster. Anita Desai and Khushwant Singh are Indian authors who wrote different novels about India. Mark Twain is a famous American writer known mainly for humorous and satirical works set in the United States. Recognising the historical background and typical works of each author allows you to select the right one.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that "A Passage to India" deals with British colonial rule and the possibility of friendship between an Englishman and an Indian. Step 2: This novel is widely attributed to E. M. Forster, one of the major British novelists of the early twentieth century. Step 3: Anita Desai has written novels like "Clear Light of Day" and "In Custody", not "A Passage to India". Step 4: Khushwant Singh wrote "Train to Pakistan" about Partition, which is a different book. Step 5: Mark Twain wrote works such as "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" and "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" and is not linked to this title. Step 6: Therefore E. M. Forster is the only correct option.

Verification / Alternative check:
Almost all literature guides and histories of English fiction list "A Passage to India" under E. M. Forster. It is studied in university syllabi worldwide as one of his major works. None of the other three authors are ever cited as its creator in credible sources, confirming the correctness of this attribution.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Anita Desai is wrong because she wrote different novels about Indian life, but not this particular book.
• Khushwant Singh is wrong because his famous Partition novel is "Train to Pakistan", not "A Passage to India".
• Mark Twain is wrong because he focused on American society and not on British India in the way this novel does.

Common Pitfalls:
Some candidates may confuse any book about India with Indian authors, overlooking the fact that several British writers also wrote about the country during the colonial period. Another mistake is to guess based solely on name recognition. Remember that E. M. Forster is the author of "A Passage to India", while Khushwant Singh is associated with "Train to Pakistan".

Final Answer:
The classic novel "A Passage to India" was written by E. M. Forster.