One of the India's greatest contemporary English poet, Vikram Seth celebrating his birthday today

New Delhi ( Vivek Ojha ) : Vikram Seth, an Indian novelist and poet, who has written several novels and poetry books, was born on June 20, 1952. He has received several awards including Padma Shri, Sahitya Akademi Award, Pravasi Bharatiya Samman, WH Smith Literary Award and Crossword Book Award.

Seth, who believes literature and life should be enjoyable and not otherworldly, mocks any kind of extreme or romantic attitude towards life. At a time when coming up with new literary styles as a way to shock readers is a norm, Seth goes back to old literary models to create contemporary literature, something often termed as a postmodern style.

Seth is an international writer, the kind who breaks national boundaries by refusing to keep characters settled in one place. He has written books set in India, England, USA, and also a travel book about China.

Seth was born in Calcutta and pursued higher studies at Corpus Christi College, Oxford, Stanford University and Nanjing University.

In 2006, Seth became a leader of the campaign against Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, a law against homosexuality.

Seth's A Suitable Boy is said to be one of the longest English novels with around 5,93,674 words.

Vikram Seth's works:

The Golden Gate, 1986

A Suitable Boy, 1993

An Equal Music, 1999