Suggest me some good books which can help me understand India better?
Posted by admin on May.27, 2011, under Riches Secrets
These days I’m reading "The Discovery of India" by Jawaharlal Nehru and I’ve learned a lot of new things about India through that book. Suggest me some books which are about India’s rich history and unique character.
Midnight’s Children.
It’s a blend of fiction and history, and will make a fascinating companion to the Nehru as part of it covers the same period. Plus, a serious contender for the best book I’ve ever read.
For a colonial perspective, try Kipling’s ‘Kim’. Has the white-imperialist overtones of the day, but far from one-sided. It’s based on Kipling’s own childhood – he was actually born in India and Hindi was his first language.
5 comments for this entry:
May 27th, 2011 on 4:21 pm
India history consist of so many ERA, Mughals, British, independent and now modern Indian who is screwing its neighboring countries to be Muscle power of this planet. I can suggest you one writer who I think wrote books in neutral point of view. try checking নীরদ চন্দ্র চৌধুরী Nirod Chôndro Choudhuri.
References :
May 27th, 2011 on 5:01 pm
The Guide – R.K.Narayan (his other books too)
Heat and Dust – Ruth Prawar Jhabwala
Passage to India – E.M.Foster
Kayyar – T.S.S. Pillai
Kantapura – Raja Rao
The Mahabharata
The Ramayana
Serpent and the Rope – Raja Rao
Tamas – Bhisham Sahani
Home and the World – Rabindranath Tagore
Rudali – Mahashweta Debi
References :
May 27th, 2011 on 5:33 pm
Burmese Days by George Orwell
It’s fiction but is written about the British occupation of India.
References :
Reading it currently
May 27th, 2011 on 6:00 pm
Midnight’s Children.
It’s a blend of fiction and history, and will make a fascinating companion to the Nehru as part of it covers the same period. Plus, a serious contender for the best book I’ve ever read.
For a colonial perspective, try Kipling’s ‘Kim’. Has the white-imperialist overtones of the day, but far from one-sided. It’s based on Kipling’s own childhood – he was actually born in India and Hindi was his first language.
References :
I chose to do a dissertation on representations of India as an undergrad, and have also travelled and worked in Rajasthan.
May 27th, 2011 on 6:15 pm
Get the CIA’s country book on India. They have a country book on every country. Libraries have it but they’re also online. They’re great resources.
References :
I borrowed it from the public library.