Vikas Swarup (born 1961) is an Indian author and retired diplomat. His first novel, Q & A (2005), about a poor waiter who wins a television quiz show, was filmed as Slumdog Millionaire (2008), which won eight Academy Awards. In a 35-year career in the Indian Foreign Service he was the spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs and High Commissioner to Canada.
Quick Facts
| Full name | Vikas Swarup |
| Born | 1961, Allahabad (now Prayagraj), Uttar Pradesh, India |
| Occupation | Author, former diplomat |
| Service | Indian Foreign Service (1986–2021) |
| Education | Boys’ High School and Allahabad University (history, psychology and philosophy) |
| Spouse | Aparna Swarup |
| Children | 2 sons |
| Known for | Q & A, the basis of Slumdog Millionaire |
Early Life
Swarup was born into a family of lawyers in Allahabad. He was a champion debater at Allahabad University and joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1986.
Diplomatic Career
His postings included Turkey, the United States, Ethiopia, the United Kingdom, South Africa and Japan, where he was Consul General in Osaka-Kobe. From 2015 to 2017 he was the official spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, known for his crisp statements during tense periods with Pakistan. He was High Commissioner to Canada from 2017 to 2019 and retired in 2021 as Secretary (West) in the ministry.
Writer
He wrote Q & A in about two months in 2003, while posted in London. The novel’s hero, Ram Mohammad Thomas, answers every question on a quiz show because each one happens to connect with an episode in his hard life. It was translated into more than forty languages and won South Africa’s Boeke Prize. Danny Boyle’s film version, with a screenplay by Simon Beaufoy and music by A. R. Rahman, changed the hero’s name and much of the plot and won the Oscar for Best Picture in 2009; Irrfan Khan and Anil Kapoor were in the cast.
Six Suspects (2008) is a murder mystery about the killing of a politician’s son. The Accidental Apprentice (2013) follows a saleswoman offered the chance to head a business empire if she passes seven tests. The Girl with the Seven Lives appeared in 2024.
Personal Life
He is married to Aparna, an artist, and they have two sons.
Books
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Vikas Swarup born?
Vikas Swarup was born in 1961, Allahabad (now Prayagraj), Uttar Pradesh, India.
What is Vikas Swarup known for?
Known for: Q & A, the basis of Slumdog Millionaire.
Featured image: Vikas Swarup speaks at the Jaipur Literature Festival. Photo by Sriya Sarkar, licensed under CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
