The political and historical commentary book "India: From Midnight to the Millennium" is authored by whom?

Introduction / Context:
This question sits at the intersection of political history and literature. "India: From Midnight to the Millennium" is a widely cited non fiction work that reflects on India's journey from independence onwards. Identifying Shashi Tharoor as the author is important for any learner building a list of influential books on modern India.

Given Data / Assumptions:

- The book title given is "India: From Midnight to the Millennium".

- Four options list writers, mostly contemporary Indian authors.

- Only one of them is a prominent political commentator and diplomat who wrote this book.

- The question demands recognition and recall of the correct book author pair.

Concept / Approach:
The main idea is to connect Shashi Tharoor with his many non fiction works on India's history, politics, and international image. This book looks at issues like democracy, economic reforms, and national identity. The other options are mainly fiction writers who belong to a different category and are not known for this kind of political commentary. The approach is therefore to recognise the style and subject of the book and match it to Tharoor.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that Shashi Tharoor served at the United Nations and later entered Indian politics, all while writing extensively on national issues. Step 2: Remember that "India: From Midnight to the Millennium" is one of his best known works, analysing developments from nineteen forty seven onwards. Step 3: Check that Anuj Tiwari and Mitali Meelan are fiction authors known mainly for novels aimed at younger readers. Step 4: Note that Jhumpa Lahiri writes literary fiction about the Indian diaspora, not this historical commentary, confirming Shashi Tharoor as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
To verify, think of the way this book is used in discussions about India's political economy and democratic evolution. Many articles and academic courses reference Tharoor's arguments from this text. There are no competing attributions linking this title to any of the other options, so once Tharoor is remembered for his series of Indian non fiction works, the match is clear.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Anuj Tiwari is known for contemporary romance and motivational novels, not for historical political analysis.
Mitali Meelan writes fiction and is not associated with this major non fiction volume on India.
Jhumpa Lahiri focuses on migrant experiences and family relationships in her fiction and is not the author of this work.

Common Pitfalls:
A possible pitfall is to confuse this book with other titles about India written by foreign historians or journalists. Some candidates also misattribute it to general Indian authors without political backgrounds. The easiest way to avoid such mistakes is to remember that "India: From Midnight to the Millennium" is part of Shashi Tharoor's cluster of books exploring India's past and present.

Final Answer:
The book "India: From Midnight to the Millennium" is authored by Shashi Tharoor.