Gauri Deshpande (11 February 1942 – 1 March 2003) was a novelist, short story writer, and poet from Maharashtra, India.

Deshpande was born in Pune to Irawati and Dinkar Dhondo Karve, youngest of three children.

[citation needed] She is also the granddaughter of the social reformer Maharshi Dhondo Keshav Karve.

Her daughter Urmila Deshpande is also an author and published the novels Kashmir Blues,[1] A Pack of Lies,[2] and Equal to Angels; the short story collection, Slither: Carnal Prose, and edited Madhouse: True stories of the Inmates of Hostel 4.

Deshpande died in Pune on 1 March 2003 due to complications arising as a result of alcohol abuse.