Toru Dutt's A Sheaf Gleaned in French Fields, published in 1876, is considered to be the first major work of Indian English literature.

Mulk Raj Anand is known for his portrayal of the lives of the underprivileged in Indian society, as seen in his novel Untouchable.

R. K. Narayan is known for his humorous and satirical portrayal of Indian society, as seen in his novels Swami and Friends and The Guide.

Anita Desai is known for her exploration of the inner lives of women in Indian society, as seen in her novels Cry, the Peacock and Fire on the Mountain.

All of the above themes are common in Indian English literature.

Salman Rushdie is known for his use of magical realism in his writing, as seen in his novels Midnight's Children and Shame.

Khushwant Singh is known for his exploration of the Partition of India in his writing, as seen in his novel Train to Pakistan.

Arundhati Roy is known for her writing on the Naxalite movement in India, as seen in her novel The God of Small Things.

Jhumpa Lahiri is known for her exploration of the lives of the diaspora in her writing, as seen in her novels The Namesake and Unaccustomed Earth.

Amitav Ghosh is known for his use of allegory in his writing, as seen in his novels The Glass Palace and The Hungry Tide.

Arundhati Roy is known for her exploration of the relationship between humans and the environment in her writing, as seen in her novel The God of Small Things.

Salman Rushdie is known for his use of myth and folklore in his writing, as seen in his novels Midnight's Children and Shame.

Anita Desai is known for her exploration of the themes of love and loss in her writing, as seen in her novels Cry, the Peacock and Fire on the Mountain.

Vikram Seth is known for his use of humor and satire in his writing, as seen in his novels The Golden Gate and A Suitable Boy.

Jhumpa Lahiri is known for her exploration of the themes of identity and belonging in her writing, as seen in her novels The Namesake and Unaccustomed Earth.