The English novel "In Custody" is written by which of the following authors?

Introduction / Context:

This question assesses your familiarity with Indian English literature. "In Custody" is an important novel that explores themes of language, culture, and personal failure. Linking it to its author is a standard general knowledge task, especially in exams that emphasise Indian authors writing in English.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The novel title is "In Custody".

• Four author options are provided: Vikram Seth, Shobhaa De, Anita Desai, and V. S. Naipaul.

• Only one of these writers actually wrote "In Custody".

• The question assumes awareness of major works of Indian English fiction.

Concept / Approach:

The main approach is matching known novels to their authors. Anita Desai is well known for introspective, character driven novels, and "In Custody" is one of her significant works, later adapted for film. The other listed authors are famous but are associated with different titles. Using elimination and basic literary knowledge leads to the correct answer.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:

You can verify the authorship by checking any standard literature guide or the credits of the film adaptation of "In Custody". These references consistently attribute the novel to Anita Desai. Bibliographies of the other authors do not list this title among their works, strengthening the identification.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

Vikram Seth is associated with novels such as "A Suitable Boy" and poetry collections, not "In Custody".

Shobhaa De writes contemporary Indian fiction and non fiction centred on urban life and glamour, but not this literary novel.

V. S. Naipaul's work focuses on post colonial themes and global issues; "In Custody" is not part of his bibliography.

Common Pitfalls:

Candidates sometimes select the most famous name, such as V. S. Naipaul, without carefully linking titles to authors. Another mistake is confusing "In Custody" with other well known Indian English novels like "A Suitable Boy". The best way to avoid this is to memorise a small table of major authors and their key works.

Final Answer:

The novel "In Custody" was written by Anita Desai.