The Mahabharata is an ancient Indian epic poem attributed to the sage Vyasa. It is one of the longest epic poems ever written, consisting of over 100,000 verses.

Rabindranath Tagore was a Bengali poet, writer, musician, and painter who reshaped Bengali literature and music. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1913, becoming the first non-European to receive the award.

The Upanishads are a collection of ancient Indian philosophical texts that are part of the Vedas, the sacred Hindu scriptures.

Arundhati Roy is an Indian writer known for her powerful short stories and novels that explore the social and political realities of India. She was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2007.

The Panchatantra is a collection of ancient Indian fables that has been translated into over 200 languages. The primary purpose of these fables is to provide moral instruction and teach life lessons.

Salman Rushdie is an Indian writer known for his satirical novels and short stories that critique social and political issues. He was awarded the Booker Prize in 1981 for his novel 'Midnight's Children'.

The Bhagavad Gita is a sacred Hindu scripture that is part of the Mahabharata, one of the two major ancient Indian epic poems.

Jhumpa Lahiri is an Indian-American writer known for her novels and short stories that explore the themes of identity, displacement, and the immigrant experience. She was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in 2006 for her novel 'Interpreter of Maladies'.

The Ramayana is an ancient Indian epic poem that tells the story of the legendary prince Rama, his wife Sita, and their struggles against the demon king Ravana.

José Saramago was a Portuguese writer known for his novels and short stories that explore the themes of love, loss, and the human condition. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1998.

The Puranas are a collection of ancient Indian religious texts that contain myths, legends, and historical accounts. Traditionally, 18 Puranas are recognized.

Salman Rushdie is an Indian writer known for his novels and short stories that explore the themes of colonialism, postcolonialism, and the partition of India. He was awarded the Booker Prize in 1975 for his novel 'Midnight's Children'.

The Vedas are a collection of ancient Indian sacred texts that are considered to be the foundation of Hinduism. Traditionally, four Vedas are recognized: the Rigveda, Samaveda, Yajurveda, and Atharvaveda.

Jhumpa Lahiri is an Indian-American writer known for her novels and short stories that explore the themes of identity, belonging, and the immigrant experience. She was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in 2018 for her novel 'The Lowland'.

The Tantras are a collection of ancient Indian religious texts that contain instructions for spiritual practices, rituals, and meditation. The primary goal of Tantra is to achieve moksha (liberation) from the cycle of birth and rebirth.