India’s 10 Inspiring Authors To Look Out For In 2026

The course of Indian literature is changing in dynamical and meaningful ways. Today's authors are not writing in isolation. They are drawing from real lives, professional journeys, cultural roots, and everyday questions that people quietly carry with them. Across fiction and non-fiction, Indian writers are exploring themes of identity, belief, leadership, health, history, and personal growth with honesty and purpose. Many of these voices come from outside traditional literary circles, bringing fresh perspectives shaped by lived experience rather than trends. Their books speak to readers looking for connection, clarity, and relevance in a fast-moving world. Whether through stories rooted in tradition or ideas shaped by modern challenges, these writers reflect the many ways India thinks, feels, and evolves today. Together, they represent a shift toward writing that informs, reflects, and stays with the reader.

This list highlights ten such authors whose work is gaining attention and whose voices are set to grow stronger in the year ahead.

Acharya. Prof. Shankar Ghanshyamdas Andani:

Acharya. Prof. CA. Dr. Shankar Ghanshamdas Andani is a chartered accountant, entrepreneur, and social visionary whose work spans finance, technology, literature, and community development. Known for his professional excellence and philanthropic commitment, he has authored and edited multiple books that reflect diverse interests.

Among his notable literary projects is the poetry anthology Aai - Prem, Mamta, Vatsalya, India's largest poetry book, featuring 1121 poems on a single subject: mother (Aai in Marathi). He has also written Blockchain Technology: An Innovation, a practical guide exploring digital transformation, and Blockchain Analysis & Its Implementation Areas, aimed at demystifying blockchain for students and professionals. Through his writing, Andani seeks to make complex subjects accessible and inspire readers across generations, blending scholarly insight with real-world relevance.

Sandeep Mehra:

Sandeep Mehra is a veteran fraud investigator with over 38 years of experience across Indian law enforcement and the corporate sector. An ex-national swimmer, he joined the Indian Police at 22, was named Best Cadet, and later served with the Central Bureau of Investigation, where he handled major financial crime cases, including the 2001 stock market scam. He was awarded India's Best Investigator in 2007. Later, Sandeep led vigilance and investigations at Royal Bank of Scotland, Citibank, Yes Bank, and now Poonawalla Fincorp.

His writing reflects this rare depth of experience. The Rogue Bankers: Scam of 2001 is a true account of his own investigation of the year 2001 Stock Market Scam. The New Road to Kailash explores the world of espionage through fiction, while his latest book, Chasing Shadows, presents gripping investigative stories rooted in real-world crime and consequence.

Capt. Poonam Devrakhyani:

Capt. Poonam Devrakhyani is a commercial airline pilot, aviation consultant, Independent Director, and author of Runway to Revenue, with over 18 years of experience across flight operations, regulatory oversight, and aviation governance. She has flown Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 aircraft, gaining extensive domestic and international operational exposure, and is known for her disciplined decision-making and uncompromising safety mindset.

As an aviation consultant and Independent Director, she advises aviation enterprises on regulatory alignment, operational oversight, risk assessment, and governance frameworks. Her book Runway to Revenue serves as a structured, step-by-step guide to building and scaling charter aviation businesses, detailing certification pathways, compliance requirements, risk controls, and sustainable revenue models. Through her work, Capt. Poonam champions compliance-first, accountable aviation entrepreneurship.

Hanif Hurairah:

Hanif Hurairah emerges as a distinctive contemporary voice blending philosophy, imagination, and future thinking. His book The Man from the Time Machine and its core philosophy, The Himalayan Secrenet, combine self-help and fantasy in a narrative often compared to The Alchemist, yet rooted in an unmistakably Indian landscape.

Bestselling author Sumaa Tekur observes that Hanif's storytelling is "more seen than read," unfolding with visual, dream-like frames shaped by his background as a filmmaker. A scientist notes the book stands out among works such as The Alchemist and The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari. Self-published under EkamFolks Books, his work reflects a thinker concerned with purpose beyond success.

Dr. Farman Ali:

Dr. Farman Ali is a surgeon, gerontologist, and longevity expert focused on reversing biological aging before disease takes hold. Trained in general and HPB surgery, his work bridges the operating room and the science of human performance. As Chief Strategic Officer at Ventila, he works with senior leaders and corporate teams to restore vitality using his proprietary F BAS longevity system. A two-time TEDx speaker and he is the author of the upcoming book AGELESS.

Vineet Dev:

Colonel Vineet Dev, SM, is a decorated Army veteran, leadership practitioner, corporate leader, and author of Spine to Wade: Leading Generations to Thrive. Over 28 years in uniform, he led troops in demanding theatres like Siachen, Srinagar, and the deserts of Rajasthan, and served on UN missions in the DRC. Awarded the Sena Medal for gallantry and a COAS commendation, he later transitioned to leadership roles in the IT sector, building global teams and mentoring leaders across industries.

Spine to Wade bridges his battlefield and boardroom experiences, offering grounded lessons on values, resilience, and legacy. Today, he continues to mentor, advise, and speak on enduring leadership.

Dr. Bharat Saboo:

Dr. Bharat Saboo is a leading diabetologist based in Indore, serving as Managing Director and Chief Consultant at Prayas Diabetes Centre. He has authored over 50 research papers and received several national and international honors. His work spans clinical care, research, and digital innovation in preventive diabetology, alongside leadership roles in professional and non-profit initiatives.

As an author, Dr. Saboo focuses on clarity and patient empowerment. His Amazon bestsellers Diabetes Unlocked: Your Path to a Fulfilling Life and मधुमेह पर नियंत्रण: नए जीवन की शुरुआत translate medical science into practical guidance. Titles such as Decoding Artificial Intelligence for Physicians and Diet Therapy reflect his interest in future-ready healthcare. He is coming out next year with books on How to live for 100 years and One step before diabetes.

Shraddha Popat:

Shraddha Popat is a thoughtful researcher and writer whose work sits at the intersection of inquiry, silence, and lived experience. Qualified as Company Secretary and lawyer, she brings over sixteen years of professional rigor shaped by leadership roles across prominent corporations such as Arch, Abbott, Colgate and Welspun. Beyond her professional life, Krishn remains her deeper calling and her writing reflects a sustained engagement with questions of faith, doubt, and inner transformation, approached with restraint rather than assertion.

Her debut book, The Golden Mystery: Dwarka: The Divine Birth, is a contemplative narrative that approaches Dwarka as a living spiritual presence rather than a site bound by history. The book follows a modern, questioning consciousness moving through doubt, silence, and reflection. Krishna is not retold through familiar myths, but experienced as a personal presence, emerging through moments of uncertainty and inner pause. Dwarka acts as a catalyst for transformation, shaping the seeker's inner journey. Written for her son, the book carries an intimate emotional layer, grounding its philosophical inquiry in care, continuity, and lived faith.

Ashish Goyal:

Ashish Goyal is an author whose writing bridges modern storytelling with ancient Indian wisdom, reimagining dharma as an evolving force. A Mumbai-based CA with two decades of corporate leadership experience, he brings analytical clarity to his narratives alongside a deep engagement with Dharma.

His Guardians of Dharma series reimagines Indian fantasy, following young protagonists encountering subtle, nature-bound wisdom rooted in sound, silence, and responsibility. Beginning with The Hidden Resonance and continuing in The Flame of Silence, the series privileges ethical tension over spectacle and introspection over power. Rather than treating mythology as nostalgia, Goyal approaches it as memory; quiet, layered, and relevant to modern life. His voice remains restrained and culturally grounded, marking a new direction in Indian storytelling.

Ranjan Sen:

Ranjan Sen is a former international banker whose career spanned over three decades in senior leadership roles across some of the world's largest global banks. From his student days, he cultivated a lifelong engagement with writing and public speaking, winning multiple speaking awards and contributing to The Times of India, The Statesman, and The Hindustan Times as a student. He is now a part of the tech startup ecosystem and has returned to literature.

His debut anthology, To Cut A Long Story Short, published by Om Books International, brings together eleven stories which travel across time and geography, from historical courts to modern cities. Through themes of mortality, trauma, and moral choice, the collection examines the frailty of the human condition, blending psychological insight, suspense, and intimate human drama.