Match the List I with List II and select the correct answer from the code given below:

List I - Padma Bhushan (Year)	List II - Writer
I. 1974	1. Mulk Raj Anand
II. 2014	2. Anita Desai
III. 1967	3. Khushwant Singh

Correct option is C

Explanation:

The Padma Bhushan is the third-highest civilian award in India, and its recipients have made significant contributions to art, literature, education, and public service. The writers and the years in question are as follows:

I. 1974: Khushwant Singh received the Padma Bhushan in 1974. Khushwant Singh was an Indian author, journalist, and editor best known for his works like Train to Pakistan and The Company of Women.

II. 2014: Anita Desai was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 2014. Anita Desai is an acclaimed Indian-English novelist and short story writer, known for books such as Clear Light of Day and Fasting, Feasting.

III. 1967: Mulk Raj Anand was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1967. Mulk Raj Anand was a prominent Indian author who addressed issues such as poverty, social inequality, and the plight of the underprivileged in his works like Untouchable and Coolie.

Information Booster:

Khushwant Singh (1974):

• Khushwant Singh (1915–2014) was an Indian writer, journalist, and editor known for his bold views on society and politics.
  
• His novel Train to Pakistan (1956), which deals with the partition of India and its emotional and social aftermath, is a powerful depiction of the human cost of independence.
  
• Singh was also known for his editorial work with magazines such as Hindustan Times and The Illustrated Weekly of India.
  
• He was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1974 for his immense contribution to Indian literature and journalism.
  

Anita Desai (2014):

• Anita Desai is one of India’s most prominent authors in English literature, celebrated for her psychological insight and focus on human relationships.
  
• Her novels, including Clear Light of Day (1980) and Fasting, Feasting (1999), explore identity, family dynamics, and cultural dilemmas.
  
• She was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 2014 for her significant contribution to Indian literature and her exploration of Indian life through a global perspective.
  

Mulk Raj Anand (1967):

• Mulk Raj Anand (1905–2004) was an Indian writer known for his socially relevant literature, particularly focusing on issues of poverty, oppression, and the plight of the marginalized.
  
• His famous works like Untouchable (1935) and Coolie (1936) are critiques of the Hindu caste system and colonial rule, bringing attention to the struggles of the untouchables and the working class.
  
• Anand was honored with the Padma Bhushan in 1967 for his contribution to literature and social reform.