Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
The question seeks to identify the originator of the Indian English novel, necessitating familiarity with the history of Indian English literature.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
\[\begin{array}{rl} \bullet & \text{Bankim Chandra Chatterjee is recognized for authoring the first Indian novel in English, Rajmohan's Wife, published serially in 1864. [2, 3, 5, 6, 7] } \\ \bullet & \text{Rabindranath Tagore, a Nobel laureate, primarily wrote in Bengali and subsequently translated his works into English; however, he did not author the first original English novel. } \\ \bullet & \text{R. K. Narayan, Mulk Raj Anand, and Raja Rao are considered foundational figures of the Indian English novel, but their significant works emerged in the 1930s, after Chatterjee's novel. [11] } \\ \end{array}\]Consequently, Bankim Chandra Chatterjee is the appropriate response.
Step 3: Final Answer:
Bankim Chandra Chatterjee was the first Indian to author a novel in English. Option (D) is correct.