Kiran Desai, born on 3 September 1971 in New Delhi, is an acclaimed Indian author renowned for her novel The Inheritance of Loss, which garnered significant international recognition by winning the 2006 Man Booker Prize and the National Book Critics Circle Fiction Award. Her literary talent runs in the family, as she is the daughter of esteemed author Anita Desai.

Desai's literary journey commenced with her first novel, Hullabaloo in the Guava Orchard (1998), which received praise from literary giants including Salman Rushdie and was honored with the Betty Trask Award. Her second novel, The Inheritance of Loss, not only won the prestigious 2006 Man Booker Prize but also received the National Book Critics Circle Fiction Award, cementing her status as a significant figure in contemporary literature.

As a citizen of India and a permanent resident of the United States, Desai embodies a blend of cultural identities that enriches her writing. She was listed by The Economic Times in January 2015 as one of the 20 "most influential" global Indian women, highlighting her impact both in literature and beyond.