Is Anita Desai A-List?

NoB

No — Anita Desai is currently ranked B tier — a well-known figure with a strong career but not quite a household name.

Ranking Timeline

1963C$0.01M

Publishes Cry, the Peacock

Publishes her novel Cry, the Peacock, gaining initial recognition.

1978B▲$0.1M+$0.09000000000000001M

Sahitya Akademi Award

Receives the Sahitya Akademi Award for her novel Fire on the Mountain.

1980B$0.5M+$0.4M

Booker Prize Nomination

Receives her first Booker Prize nomination, increasing her international profile.

2000B$2M+$1.5M

Continued Literary Success

Continues to write and publish critically acclaimed novels and short stories.

2004B$4M+$2M

Emerita Professor at MIT

Becomes an emerita professor of humanities at MIT.

2026B$5M+$1M

Influence on Literature

Remains a respected and influential figure in Indian literature, inspiring future generations of writers.

Last updated: February 25, 2026