10 Indian Books To Read This Republic Day
Hello readers! As it’s Indian Republic Day tomorrow on 26 January, I would like to list books to read this Republic Day that represents India’s history and as I have read only few partition books or historical fiction I’m also including books representing Indian culture and mythology so there is a book for all readers who would like to see a little bit of India in books.
10 Indian Books To Read This Republic Day
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Books on Indian History
The Map and the Scissors by Amit Majmudar
The Map and the Scissors is fantastic and epic historical fiction that portrays Gandhi and Jinnah, two London-educated lawyers who played an important part in the freedom and partition of India. This extraordinary, thought-provoking fiction brought back a painful nightmarish historical time period to life with its accurate details, facts, and representation.
Links : My Review | Amazon.in | Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk
Lahore by Manreet Sodhi Someshwar
Lahore is interesting political historical fiction that revolved around end of the British rule, the independence of India, and how that caused political and religious upheaval that affected life of people in Punjab and other provinces. This is about the India-Pakistan partition with well-balanced fictional and factual stories.
Links : My Review | Amazon.in | Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk
Hyderabad by Manreet Sodhi Someshwar
I’m currently reading this. This follows the events of Lahore, taking readers to Hyderabad during the month of independence showing us the reluctance refusal of Hyderabad’s Nizam to accede to independent India or come to any agreement with Indian politicians, asking for free Hyderabad in the middle of the country surrounded by Indian states that already acceded to free India. It’s interesting to see how Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and Sardar Patel managed to get Hyderabad in India.
Links : Review to come | Amazon.in | Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk
The Ministry of Utmost Happiness by Arundhati Roy
The Ministry of Utmost Happiness was story of shattered characters telling their shattered life story and trying to live in this shattered world with support of hope and companionship. It was basically a fiction story based in India and written around political, social, religious, and regional issues of India with critical view point. Not my most favorite in this list but writing is touching and emotive.
Links : My Review | Amazon.in | Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk
Historical Romance
The Prince And The Nightingale by Abhishek Bhatt
The Prince And The Nightingale is immersive historical romance that revolved around the story of Abhimanyu, Prince of Ranakopour, and Meera, the commoner and amazing singer of Mumbai. The story is beautiful, touching and realistic historical romance about independent India, political impact on royal family, finding place in world, adapting life without privilege, ambitions, family duty, and love.
Links : My Review | Amazon.in | Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk
Books in the era of Kings and Queens
Rani Padmavati: The Burning Queen by Anuja Chandramouli
Padmavati was a legendary medieval Indian queen and her earliest mention was in a poems by Malik Muhammad Jayasi in 1540 CE. This is story of beauty, jealousy and betrayal on Padmavati’s life that depicted a perfect picture of – royal women in that era- their thinking and their way of living; internal disputes among Rajput rulers; religious differences of Hindu-Muslim; Political scheming within a kingdom or in between kingdoms; most importantly Jauhar- custom of mass self-immolation.
Links : My Review | Amazon.in | Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk
Prithviraj Chauhan: The Emperor of Hearts by Anuja Chandramouli
Prithviraj Chauhan or Rai Pithora in the folk legends, was an Indian king from the Chahamana (Chauhan) dynasty ruled from 1178 to 1192 CE. This is history of Prithviraj Chauhan that not only showed his life story but also covered sensitive and political matter of medieval era- Killing and plotting against own family, clashes between queens and clans, kidnapping and harassing to save the king by people who supposed to be a good in eyes of king as well as people. How in the name of saving kingdom and birthright, royalties fought, did heinous crimes, and shed blood. Suffering of people and the differences between the royal and common people. And also the religious belief of people in that era, how it can blind men to an extent that they can’t see the wrong they are doing.
Links : My Review | Amazon.in | Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk
Mythology
Mahagatha – 100 Tales from the Puranas by Satyarth Nayak
Mahagatha is a fantastic compilation of 100 diverse tales from Puranas (ancient #legends and lore of Hindu mythology) well narrated in chronological order that started from the beginning of the universe to how Vishnu, Brahma, and Mahadeva originated and became Trinity/Triumvirate/ Trimurti, the creation of good and evil, gods and demon, four Vedas (scripture) and Yugas (time period), and events happened in those Yugas. These tales are derived from scriptures recorded approximately between 250 CE to 1500 CE by many scholars that still remain important to Hindu culture. It is well-written compilation that helps understanding Hindu mythology and culture better.
Links : My Review | Amazon.in | Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk
Fantasy
The Star-Touched Queen by Roshani Chokshi
The star Touched Queen was mythical fantasy romance, an Indian retelling of Hades and Persephone, a story of Maya and Amar full of mysteries, love and betrayal, death and reincarnation, fate and fortune. World building, tales and mysteries are the heart of the book. It gives a different perspective on fate and death and deeper insight on love.
Links : My Review | Amazon.in | Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk
Crime Thriller
Zero Day by S. Hussain Zaidi
Zero Day is an intriguing thriller that revolves around DDoS attacks in Maharastra and ATS team trying to catch the hacker behind attacks. Author kept the focus on the best part of the story, the plot and suspense. Another thing that liked most is the technical aspect and police sytem and their work. This is thrilling, suspenseful, fast paced, and plot driven thriller on cyberterrorism.
Links : My review | Amazon.in | Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk
Thank you for reading! Let’s chat..,
What do you think about this list? See any of your interest?
Have you read any book with Indian character or culture recently or plan to?
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Books Teacup and Reviews
Hi, I'm Yesha, an Indian book blogger. Avid and eclectic reader who loves to read with a cup of tea. Not born reader but I don't think I’m going to stop reading books in this life. “You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me.”
11 Comments
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Teri Polen
I’ve read Roshani Choksi – and was lucky enough to see meet her at a book signing – but not this book. I’ve seen some wonderful reviews for it. Thanks for the recs, Yesha!
Lashaan Balasingam @ Roars and Echoes
This is a wonderful list, Yesha! I read The Ministry of Utmost Happiness back when it was first released but wasn’t a fan of it. I do want to try that mythology book you recently picked up though! 😀
WendyW
I know very little about Indian History. I like the sound of The Prince And The Nightingale by Abhishek Bhatt, as you know I like a bit of romance. I added it to my tbr
Books Teacup and Reviews
I hope you enjoy it. It’s more romance. You can see a bit of struggle of once a prince only in the beginning.
Carla
I am going to bookmark this post to check out again. These are great recommendations and I will be checking them out in the future.
Books Teacup and Reviews
I hope you get to read some of these and enjoy them.
Leah @ Leah’s Books
These sound so interesting! Thank you for sharing, I love learning more about India and it’s incredible and turbulent history.
Books Teacup and Reviews
You get more history in first four books of this list. Rest are different genres that has essence of culture and myths. Thank you!
Tessa
These all sound wonderful! I know a little bit about that time in India but I would enjoy learning more. Thank you for the recs!
Books Teacup and Reviews
Thank you, Tessa! If you like to know more about partition, I highly recommend first three.