Who is the author of the classic English novel "A Passage to India"?

Introduction / Context:
"A Passage to India" is a landmark English novel that explores the complex relationship between British colonial rulers and Indians during the British Raj. Many general knowledge and literature based questions ask about the authors of such classics because they are central to discussions of colonial history, cross cultural encounters, and early twentieth century fiction. This question checks whether you can correctly link this famous novel with its author, E. M. Forster.

Given Data / Assumptions:
• The title given is "A Passage to India". • It is a classic English novel set in colonial India. • Four options list different writers from various backgrounds. • Only one of them actually wrote this novel. • The question does not deal with the plot, only with identifying the author.

Concept / Approach:
Literary general knowledge questions often revolve around canonical novels that shaped how the world understands certain periods of history. "A Passage to India" is widely studied in schools and universities for its portrayal of race, friendship, justice, and misunderstanding between communities. The novel is authored by E. M. Forster, an English writer known for exploring class and culture in his works. The method is to recall this direct association and to exclude other authors who either belong to different literary traditions or wrote on different subjects.

Step-by-Step Solution:
1. Recall that "A Passage to India" focuses on British India and the tensions around a controversial court case in the fictional town of Chandrapore. 2. Connect this novel with E. M. Forster, who visited India and used his experiences to craft the story. 3. Examine option b, E. M. Forster, and recognize it as the correct author for this classic. 4. Consider option a, V. S. Naipaul, a Nobel Prize winning writer from the Caribbean who wrote different books about colonialism and postcolonial societies, not this particular novel. 5. Consider option c, Amrita Pritam, a Punjabi poet and novelist who wrote in Indian languages, not in English about this specific narrative. 6. Consider option d, Louis Fischer, a journalist and biographer known for writing about Mahatma Gandhi, but not the creator of this work of fiction. 7. Conclude that only E. M. Forster fits the description of the author of "A Passage to India".

Verification / Alternative check:
To verify, you can recall that discussions on colonial literature and postcolonial studies almost always cite "A Passage to India" as one of E. M. Forster's major novels, along with "Howards End" and "A Room with a View". University syllabi and guides on English literature list Forster as the author. Bibliographies of V. S. Naipaul include titles such as "A House for Mr Biswas", while Amrita Pritam's and Louis Fischer's works are distinct in subject and language. These clear bibliographic boundaries confirm that option b is right.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
• V. S. Naipaul wrote about colonial and postcolonial societies but did not write "A Passage to India". • Amrita Pritam wrote primarily in Punjabi and Hindi and focused on themes like partition and human relationships, not this English novel. • Louis Fischer is best known for his biographies of Mahatma Gandhi and other political figures, not for authoring this fictional narrative.

Common Pitfalls:
Candidates sometimes confuse authors who write about India from a foreign perspective. Because Naipaul and Forster both wrote about colonial and postcolonial issues, their works are easily mixed up by students who have not clearly memorized titles. Another pitfall is to associate any book with "India" in its name with an Indian author, even when the writer is British. To avoid mistakes, it is helpful to explicitly memorize Forster as the author of "A Passage to India" and Naipaul as the author of "A House for Mr Biswas" and other separate titles.

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