Books Every Indian Should Read | Must Read Gems of Indian Literature

Like every country, India has a lot of history and pasts to share and talk about. In this article we are going to read about 7 books every Indian should read. Even though we are a part of this country, there are several things that we missed and are not familiar with – aspects that are not close to ordinary viewpoint. So, with the help of these suggested books present in this article that are must read gems of Indian Literature, we are going to get more familiar with the past and real India.

A Passage to India – E. M. Forster

As soon as Adele Quested and her elderly mate Mrs. Moore arrived in the town of Chandrapore in India, they feel trapped by its chauvinist and narrow-minded Anglo- Indian community. They were determined to escape from the insular English community and explore the authentic version of India; they follow the guidance of the mercurial Dr. Aziz, an educated Muslim from India. What happens after that displays an excellent portrait of imperialism.

The Argumentative Indian – Amartya Sen

Noble Prize winner renowned economist Amartya Sen through sixteen essays explores India’s political and intellectual inheritance and how India’s confrontational legacy is significant for the victory of its democratic system and secular politics. Amartya Sen is popular for his works on the causes behind famine which provided preventive measures regarding shortages and scarcity of food.

Annihilation of Caste – B R Ambedkar

This writing by Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar is one of the most significant yet ignored works on the politics of India. This 1936 writing is a daring condemnation of Hinduism and its caste division and system. Ambedkar is one of the most radical thinkers to have ever acted on the development and growth of India. He altered and evolved the political and social structure of India’s political status and fought firmly against British colonialism.

India: A History – John Keay

This book by Keay is an inquisitive and stimulating record of five thousand years of the history of South Asia. It explores the history from the Harappan civilization on the Indus river banks to the latest race with nuclear arms. Keay mixes insights from a diverse scholarly field and interlaces them all together to make out the evolution of the rich cultures, people, and religions that create the modern nations of Bangladesh, Pakistan, and India.

The Discovery of India – Jawaharlal Nehru

This is one of the most famous works on India written by the first prime minister of India, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. Nehru wrote on several diverse aspects of Indian history. He not contributed his life to politics, but also drama, poetry, wildlife, science, history, and other fields.

Inglorious Empire – Shashi Tharoor

This work of non-fiction written by Shashi Tharoor is about the effects and consequences of British colonial rule on the country of India. Shashi Tharoor is a politician, diplomat, and winner of the Sahitya Akademi Award. According to the Hindu Business Line, this book is ‘one breathless read’.

The Idea of India – Sunil Khilnani

This book by Khilnani is a classic since it has been published. It explores a magisterial study of this cultural country and addresses the ironies and paradoxes of this large democracy of the world. In the year 1947, when British India was divided into their most majestic possession, they left an enormous, diverse, and deprived society in the hands of a small nationalist elite. For decades India has been grounded in economic development, religious tolerance, cultural pluralism, making it a ‘developing’ nation.

Also Read: Reasons Why You Need to Read More Historical Fiction