The famous book "The Discovery of India" was written by which Indian leader and statesman?

Introduction / Context:
"The Discovery of India" is an important work that combines history, philosophy, and reflections on Indian civilisation. It was written during the freedom struggle by a key national leader and later Prime Minister of India. Competitive exams frequently ask who authored this book, as it connects literature, history, and politics in one question and is a cornerstone of modern Indian intellectual writing.

Given Data / Assumptions:
• The book title is specified as "The Discovery of India". • Four Indian literary or political figures are listed as options. • You must identify the national leader who wrote this book while imprisoned. • Basic knowledge of the Indian independence movement and key leaders is assumed.

Concept / Approach:
"The Discovery of India" was written by Jawaharlal Nehru while he was in prison during the British rule. The book presents his understanding of India's past and vision of its future. To answer correctly, you must connect Nehru not only with political leadership but also with his role as an author of several important books. The other names listed are primarily poets who made literary contributions but did not write this particular work.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recognise "The Discovery of India" as a serious historical and philosophical work produced in the context of the freedom struggle. Step 2: Recall that Jawaharlal Nehru wrote several books, including "Glimpses of World History" and "The Discovery of India". Step 3: Compare his profile with those of Maithilisharan Gupt, Mahadevi Verma, and Ramdhari Singh Dinkar, who are celebrated mainly as Hindi poets. Step 4: Note that none of these poets are associated with writing an English language historical work titled "The Discovery of India". Step 5: Select Jawaharlal Nehru as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
Verification is straightforward: almost every school and college level history textbook mentions that Nehru wrote "The Discovery of India" during his imprisonment at Ahmednagar Fort. Bookshops and libraries classify it under his name. Meanwhile, Maithilisharan Gupt is known for the Hindi poem "Bharat Bharati", Mahadevi Verma for her poetry and essays in Hindi literature, and Ramdhari Singh Dinkar for patriotic poems such as "Rashmirathi". These differences confirm that only Jawaharlal Nehru matches the description of the book's author.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Maithilisharan Gupt was a noted Hindi poet, not the author of "The Discovery of India". Mahadevi Verma contributed significantly to modern Hindi poetry but did not write this historical narrative. Ramdhari Singh Dinkar is remembered for patriotic and philosophical poetry, not for this specific prose work.

Common Pitfalls:
Sometimes students get confused because the question appears under a books and authors heading and all options are literary names. Another pitfall is forgetting that political leaders can also be major authors. To avoid confusion, remember a small set of political leaders who wrote famous books, such as Jawaharlal Nehru with "The Discovery of India". This will ensure quick and accurate answers when similar questions arise.

Final Answer:
The book "The Discovery of India" was written by Jawaharlal Nehru, so Jawaharlal Nehru is the correct option.