Kamala Markandaya (? - May 16, 2004), born Kamala Purnaiya Taylor, was an Indian novelist and journalist.

A native of Mysore, India, she was a graduate of Madras University, and afterwards published several short stories in Indian newspapers. After India declared its independence, Markandaya moved to Britain, though she still labeled herself an Indian expatriate long afterwards.

Known for writing about culture clash between Indian urban and rural societies, Markandaya's first novel, Nectar in a Sieve was a bestseller, and named a notable book of 1955 by the American Library Association. Other novels include A Silence of Desire, A Handful of Rice, The Nowhere Man, Two Virgins, The Golden Honeycomb, and Pleasure City.

Markandaya died in London on 16 May 2004.

See also

• Indian writing in English