First lines of 'God of Small Things' - May in Ayemenem is a hot, brooding month. The days are long and humid. The river shrinks and black crows gorge on bright mangoes in still, dustgreen trees.

In the two decades that have passed, The God of Small Things has sold around 8million copies, and still incites a rare fervour in those who count it as one of their favourite reads. But who is ...