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LITERATURE

Malathi Rao: The Bangalore Novelist Who Won the Sahitya Akademi at 77

Born in Bangalore in 1930, raised on Austen and the Brontes, and honoured for Disorderly Women in 2007.

QUICK ANSWER

  • Malathi Rao is a Bangalore-born novelist writing in English, born in April 1930.
  • She won the Sahitya Akademi Award in 2007 for her novel Disorderly Women.
Tariq Sallam, founder of The City 24/7 Tariq Sallam October 28, 2026 • 2 min read
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A sunlit writing corner with a cane armchair and floral shawl, a vintage typewriter, a stack of handwritten pages with round spectacles, a cup of tea and jasmine on the windowsill

Malathi Rao was born in Bangalore in April 1930.

“Representing the new generation of her time, she was an educated, independent, and working woman.”

• Wikipedia, on Malathi Rao

Malathi Rao is an Indian novelist who writes in English. She was born in Bangalore in April 1930 and won the Sahitya Akademi Award in 2007 for her novel Disorderly Women. She studied English literature at the Universities of Bangalore and Mysore.

The public record on her is short, and I have kept this profile to what can be confirmed. If you know her work or her family, I would love to fill in the rest.

Quick Information

A Bangalore girl who read Jane Austen, grew up to write her own novels, and collected a national award at 77.

Born
April 1930, Bangalore
Parents
Chennagiri Padmanabha Rao and Padmavathi
Studied
English literature, Universities of Bangalore and Mysore
Writes in
English
Best known for
Disorderly Women
Award
Sahitya Akademi Award, 2007
Early influences
Jane Austen; the Brontes; Louisa May Alcott

Who Is Malathi Rao?

Malathi Rao is a Bangalore-born writer of English fiction. She was the eldest of five sisters, with one older and two younger brothers, and showed an early inclination for writing.

What Is Disorderly Women?

Disorderly Women is her English language novel, which won the Sahitya Akademi Award in 2007.

Where Did Malathi Rao Study?

She studied English literature at the Universities of Bangalore and Mysore, and went on to work at a time when that was still unusual for women of her generation.

A LESSER-KNOWN FACT

As a child she was drawn to Jane Austen, the Bronte sisters and Louisa May Alcott.

Why Does Malathi Rao Belong in People of Bangalore?

THEIR BANGALORE CONNECTION

She was born in Bangalore in 1930 and studied at Bangalore University.

HOW I PUT THIS TOGETHER

I haven't interviewed Malathi Rao for this piece. It's pieced together from online research: published interviews, news reports, books and official records, cross-checked against each other. If you know Malathi Rao and spot something I've got wrong, tap the WhatsApp icon at the bottom right and tell me, and I'll fix it.

FAQs

Who is Malathi Rao?

An Indian novelist writing in English, born in Bangalore in 1930.

Which award did Malathi Rao win?

The Sahitya Akademi Award in 2007, for Disorderly Women.

Where was Malathi Rao born?

In Bangalore.

Know Malathi Rao's Work?

If you know her, her books or her family, I want to hear from you so this profile can grow. Click the WhatsApp icon at the bottom right of your screen and tell me. That is also the easiest way to reach The City 24/7 about anything at all, including nominating someone for People of Bangalore.

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Same city, new stories, always.

Tariq Sallam, founder of The City 24/7

Tariq Sallam

FOUNDER, THE CITY 24/7

placeBangalore calendar_monthSince 1991 groupsPeople. Places. Possibilities.

Tariq Sallam is the founder of The City 24/7, a platform dedicated to celebrating everything Bangalore. Having lived in the city since 1991, he has witnessed its remarkable journey from a laid-back Garden City to one of India’s most dynamic and innovative cities.

Passionate about its people, businesses, neighbourhoods, food, culture and hidden gems, Tariq believes every corner of Bangalore has a story worth telling. When he’s not writing or interviewing inspiring Bangaloreans, you’ll find him exploring the city. And through The City 24/7, he invites you to discover Bangalore with him, one story at a time.

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