Classics & Early 20th Century:
* Toru Dutt: (1856-1877) Poet known for her English-language poetry, influenced by European Romanticism.
* Sarojini Naidu: (1879-1949) Poet, politician, and activist, celebrated for her lyrical style and nationalist themes.
* Mirabai: (15th Century) Bhakti poet and mystic, renowned for her devotional poems.
* Ismat Chughtai: (1915-1991) Short story writer and novelist, known for her bold and often controversial portrayal of women and social issues.
* Kamala Das: (1934-2009) Poet and short story writer, known for her confessional style and exploration of women's sexuality and personal experiences.
Modern & Contemporary:
* Arundhati Roy: (born 1961) Novelist and activist, known for her award-winning novel "The God of Small Things."
* Jhumpa Lahiri: (born 1967) Short story writer and novelist, known for her exploration of Indian-American experiences and culture.
* Anita Desai: (born 1937) Novelist and short story writer, known for her nuanced portrayals of Indian family dynamics and social change.
* Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni: (born 1956) Novelist and short story writer, known for her stories exploring themes of migration, identity, and women's lives.
* Nayantara Sahgal: (born 1927) Novelist, known for her insightful portrayals of Indian society and political history.
* Shobha De: (born 1948) Novelist and columnist, known for her bold and often controversial social commentary.
* A. S. Byatt: (born 1936) Novelist and short story writer, known for her literary fiction that often explores themes of gender, sexuality, and power.
* Kiran Desai: (born 1971) Novelist, known for her Booker Prize-winning novel "The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina."
* Indira Goswami: (1938-2011) Novelist and activist, known for her writing in Assamese, exploring themes of social injustice and female empowerment.
* Anita Nair: (born 1956) Novelist and short story writer, known for her stories set in Kerala, exploring themes of love, loss, and social change.
* Manju Kapur: (born 1954) Novelist, known for her exploration of Indian women's lives and their struggles for agency and self-expression.
This is just a small selection of the many talented Indian women writers who have made significant contributions to literature.
It's important to remember that this list represents a diverse range of voices, styles, and perspectives. To discover more, explore different genres, time periods, and regional literature.