Which of the following authors wrote the novel "The Black Hill"?

Introduction / Context:
This question again tests book and author pairing, but it focuses on a contemporary Indian English novel set in the North East. "The Black Hill" is a literary work that won recognition for its evocative portrayal of landscape and history. Identifying its author, Mamang Dai, is important for students learning about newer voices in Indian literature.

Given Data / Assumptions:

- The given title is "The Black Hill".

- The options include several well known Indian authors.

- Only one author among the options actually wrote this novel.

- The learner is expected to recall the correct match from reading lists and award announcements.

Concept / Approach:
The conceptual approach is to connect regions and themes with authors. "The Black Hill" is associated with Mamang Dai, a writer from Arunachal Pradesh whose work often reflects the culture and environment of the North East. While Jhumpa Lahiri and Amitav Ghosh are globally known authors, their famous works have different titles. Recognising Mamang Dai as the writer behind this novel allows the candidate to answer confidently.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify that "The Black Hill" is a novel that won critical acclaim and awards for its portrayal of the North East region of India. Step 2: Recall that Mamang Dai, a writer from Arunachal Pradesh, authored this novel. Step 3: Match this with the options and note that Jhumpa Lahiri is known for books like "Interpreter of Maladies" and "The Namesake". Step 4: Remember that Amitav Ghosh is known for novels such as "The Shadow Lines" and the Ibis trilogy, not "The Black Hill", and that Ramesh Kuntal is not associated with this title.

Verification / Alternative check:
Award lists and literary articles that discuss regional writing clearly credit Mamang Dai with "The Black Hill". If a student recalls that this novel received the Sahitya Akademi Award, that memory naturally connects it to her name. The absence of this title from the bibliographies of Lahiri and Ghosh confirms that they are not the correct answers.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Jhumpa Lahiri focuses on diaspora experiences and has a different set of known titles, none of which is "The Black Hill".
Amitav Ghosh is a major Indian English novelist, but his famous works deal with different settings and storylines.
Ramesh Kuntal is not widely recognised as the author of this particular book, so that option does not fit.

Common Pitfalls:
Learners sometimes pick the most famous name among the options rather than the correct but slightly less widely known author. This habit is especially risky when questions deliberately include literary celebrities as distractors. To avoid this, aspirants should update their reading lists to include award winning authors from all regions, not just the most popular ones.

Final Answer:
The novel "The Black Hill" is written by Mamang Dai.