12 Outstanding Books by Indian Writers

With a civilization that spans back to ancient times, India’s tradition and history form a rich tapestry for its literature. Despite the relatively shorter history of these written works, they still give us plenty of masterpieces that have won critical acclaim. 

If you haven’t had the chance to explore works by Indian authors, we hope this list will help you find some of the best, so you can enjoy the books that have greatly impacted the country’s literature. 

Best Fiction Books by Indian Authors

Here are some of our recommendations for books written by Indian authors that you should consider adding to your to-be-read list: 

1. Nectar in a Sieve by Kamala Markandaya

Set in the mid-20th century, this story follows Rukhmani, a woman from a poor, rural part of India, who is arranged to be married to a farmer named Nathan. The author expertly weaves the couple’s domestic challenges with the changes in their village following the rise of a large tannery. 

2. White Tiger by Arvind Adiga

This prize-winning debut novel gives us a unique look at disparities in social class and contradicting standards in modern-day India. Balram Halwa, the first-person narrator, is a young man hailing from a small village entrenched in poverty who seeks work in Delhi driving the wealthy.

3. The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy 

This New York Times bestselling modern classic, favorably likened to the works of Dickens and Faulkner, includes family drama, a forbidden love affair, and a complex political struggle. Estha and Rahel are 7-year-old twins whose entire lives are turned upside down when their cousin Sophie arrives. 

4. The Palace of Illusions by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni 

See the perspective of the lead female character, Draupadi, in this retelling of the Hindu epic Mahabharata. Draupadi is known for having been married to the five Pandava brothers, and this book explores, albeit in a fictional setting, her thoughts and motives throughout their foray into exile and war. 

5. A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry 

Set in 1975 in an unnamed city by the sea, this novel follows the lives of four strangers, whose lives are thrown together in a tiny apartment with the government declaring a State of Emergency. How do a young student, two tailors, and a high-spirited widow grow from clear mistrust to an enduring friendship? 

6. The Guide by R.K. Narayan 

Raju used to be one of the most corrupt tourist guides in India. But after he is released from jail, he hides in an abandoned temple, where people mistake him for a holy man. Deciding to play this role, he ends up being put to the test for his newfound morality. 

7. The Storyteller’s Secret by Sejal Badani

Inspired by her grandmother, who died in a tragic event in post-British India, the author weaves this story around Jaya, a journalist in New York, who suffers a third miscarriage and struggles with a broken marriage. To deal with these troubles, she heads to India and learns about her family’s past. 

8. Small Days and Nights by Tishani Doshi 

In the aftermath of marriage problems, Grace Marisola flies back to India for her mother’s cremation. Unexpectedly, she inherits a house on the beach, and discovers an older sister with Down Syndrome whom she never knew about. How will she adjust to this new life full of bewilderment, fury, tenderness, and chaos? 

9. A Slice From the Past by TKB Sinha

Buy Now

Raju is a young Indian boy, who, with his two sisters, is brought up by their maternal grandmother. Despite their poor financial conditions, the children enjoy their life together, and the story is rife with the themes of family, love, and faith.

Best Nonfiction Books by Indian Authors 

If you prefer nonfiction books, here are some you can try, also by Indian writers: 

10. The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari by Robin Sharma 

Translated into fifty languages, this bestselling book sold more than four million copies thanks to its timeless wisdom and practical principles for success. The book shares these insights through the story of a misguided lawyer named Julian Mantle, whose emotional and physical collapse forced him to take a deeper look into his life’s purpose. 

11. Inglorious Empire: What the British Did to India by Shashi Tharoor 

The author describes what happened to India from the time of the British colonization, which marked the arrival of the East India Company. He explores why India’s contribution to the world economy crashed as much as sixfold after 200 years of British rule. 

12. You Can Win by Shiv Khera

This guide offers practical, common sense advice for achieving success. These tips include building confidence through positive thinking, succeeding by transforming your weaknesses into strengths, gaining trust by doing things with the right motive, and eliminating hindrances to effectiveness. 

13. India After Gandhi: The History of the World Largest Democracy by Ramachandra Guha

Follow the political, social, and economic events that India has endured while preserving its commitment to democracy. The author uses a biographical and historical perspecitve throughout this book, making it a riveting read for anyone interested in the history of India.

14. The Argumentative Indian: Writings on Indian History, Culture, and Identity by Amartya Sen

Enjoy this work by a Nobel Laureate as he unpacks the different dimensions of life in his beloved India. He goes as far back as the ancient times to take a look at the factors that made India what it is today, giving us a peek at the very rich cultural heritage of this nation.

Celebrating Indian Writers 

Expanding your booklist to include writers from different countries is crucial in developing a global worldview. And the great thing about reading books by Indian authors is the long-standing history and tradition that India enjoys, giving you a glimpse of a rich culture from a fresh perspective. 

If you’ve never tried reading books from non-American authors, we encourage you to give it a try. You may end up falling in love with a whole new culture! 

Did you find this post helpful? Let us know in the comments below!

 

If you enjoyed this post, then you might also like:

The post 12 Outstanding Books by Indian Writers appeared first on TCK Publishing.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Think Pieces: What They Are and How to Write One

Image
A think piece, also known as a thought piece, is an article or piece of writing intended to stir up the reader’s thoughts. It is usually speculative, with a lot of expository material, context, and the author’s analysis and opinion of existing ideas. Sometimes, think pieces can lean toward the controversial, especially when they seek to challenge majority opinions. Particularly provocative pieces are often the ones that get shared all over social media or the internet. Editors of magazines, blogs, and websites often pay for think pieces, but they are not that easy to write. This is perhaps why many writers aspire to be published in mainstream publications like The New Yorker, The Washington Post, The Economist, The Atlantic, and The Saturday Evening Post , but their submissions barely get a sideways glance.  The good news is that getting a think piece published does not depend on your name or reputation; instead, quality is king. The key is being able to think deeply about a t...
Read more

The Best Mobile Apps for Writers

Image
If you’re a writer looking for a better way to write on your smartphone or mobile device, this post will help. Using a text app or word processor just won’t cut it if you’re doing heavy duty writing on a mobile device. These tools can help whether you have an Android or Apple device. 1. IWriter iWriter is a writing tool that functions excellently on Android and iOS. It is the best app for writing articles, books, or taking detailed notes. iWriter is a simple and elegant text editor. You can download it via iTunes or Google Play . You can check out iWriter subscription pricing here. 2. JotterPad Jotterpad makes it possible to convert files from PDF to WORD and some other popular formats. The app supports Markdown. It includes text styling, a thesaurus, a built-in dictionary that’ll even help you rhyme. It has essential features such as snapshots, typewriter scrolling, undo/redo, night vision, universal dark theme, and phrase finder. JotterPad supports full Cloud integr...
Read more

Author Business Cards: Why You Need Them and How to Make Them

Image
The first rule for being a successful author is to write. The second rule for being a successful author is to write more. The third rule for being a successful author is to always be networking. You never know where your next fan will come from. It might be someone who finds your book on Goodreads, but it might also be the person in front of you at the grocery store or the guy you bump into when you’re out for pizza. You might get chatting with someone at the bowling alley. You might end up discussing your book at the DMV. Your next reader could be anyone, anywhere. So you need to be prepared! That’s why business cards still matter in the digital era. Although we all tote tiny computers in our pockets all day, it’s still a pain in the butt to exchange contact information on a phone—not everyone uses the same system, vCards work with contact and email programs but aren’t universal, and NFC transfers are kind of clunky. Besides, after you dump your information into someone else’...
Read more