The central parents in one novel by her are so in accord that they are usually referred to by the single name "MamaPapa."
In one work by this author, a visiting aunt takes the children to a sacred river for a ritual bath, during which the protagonist nearly drowns. In another novel by this author, the protagonist's father is killed in a bizarre accident in which he flies out of the car and breaks his neck while the car remains unharmed. The central parents in one novel by her are so in accord that they are usually referred to by the single name "MamaPapa." In one novel by her, an (*) autistic character who constantly plays his gramophone, Baba, is the brother of a character who loves Urdu poetry but cannot attend his preferred university, Raja. In another novel by her, a girl who collects Christmas cards is twice forced into scam marriages and is contrasted with her prized younger brother; those characters are Arun and Uma. For 10 points, name this Indian author of Fasting, Feasting and Clear Light of Day, the mother in a literary mother-daughter pair.
In one work by this author, a visiting aunt takes the children to a sacred river for a ritual bath, during which the protagonist nearly drowns.
Anita Desai [do NOT accept Kiran Desai]