Which author wrote the famous novel A Passage to India exploring British rule and Indian society?

Introduction / Context:
"A Passage to India" is a classic English novel that examines the relationship between the British colonial administration and Indian society during the time of the British Raj. It focuses on themes of friendship, misunderstanding, prejudice, and the complexity of cross cultural contact. Knowing the author of this book is a standard requirement in literature related general knowledge sections. This question checks the ability to correctly link the novel with its author.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The novel title is "A Passage to India".
• It is a famous work about British rule in India and social relations between British and Indians.
• The options include Ruskin Bond, Jawaharlal Nehru, Victor Banerjee, and E. M. Forster.
• Only one of these names is the correct author.

Concept / Approach:
The key to solving book and author questions is familiarity with world literature and matching the time period and subject with the correct writer. "A Passage to India" was written by E. M. Forster, a British novelist. The book is not an Indian political memoir or a contemporary Indian story, so it is not written by Indian leaders or actors. Instead, it is part of early twentieth century British literature that comments on colonial India. Recognising this helps eliminate wrong options quickly.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall the genre and setting of "A Passage to India". It is a literary novel dealing with race, politics, and friendship in colonial India. Step 2: Remember that E. M. Forster is a British author who traveled to India and used his experiences to write this novel. Step 3: Look at the options: Ruskin Bond writes mainly children and young adult stories set in independent India, Jawaharlal Nehru was a political leader who wrote non fiction works, and Victor Banerjee is an actor. Step 4: Match the known author E. M. Forster to the book "A Passage to India". Step 5: Select E. M. Forster as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
A simple verification is to recall other famous works by E. M. Forster, such as "Howards End" and "A Room with a View", which are part of the same body of English literature. Reference books on English novels and examination guides list "A Passage to India" under E. M. Forster. Another check is that the 1984 film adaptation of the novel featured Victor Banerjee as an actor, which may appear among options, but he is not the author. This contrast helps confirm that E. M. Forster wrote the novel.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Ruskin Bond: He is an Indian author of children's and young adult stories and did not write "A Passage to India". His works are set mainly in the Himalayan foothills and deal with different themes.
Jawaharlal Nehru: He wrote books such as "The Discovery of India" and "Glimpses of World History", which are non fiction, and he did not author this English novel.
Victor Banerjee: He is a well known actor who appeared in the film adaptation of "A Passage to India", which might confuse some readers, but he is not the writer of the original book.

Common Pitfalls:
A common pitfall is confusing the author with a political leader from India because the book is set in India. Another mistake is mixing up the actor from the film adaptation with the novelist. Some candidates may also incorrectly associate the book with any Indian writer who has written on colonial themes. To avoid these errors, it is important to remember that "A Passage to India" is a British novel by E. M. Forster, even though it is set in India and deals with Indian society.

Final Answer:
The author of the novel "A Passage to India" is E. M. Forster.