In the world of literature, you will find some of the most beautiful novels about India that will make you think about planning a trip to the beautiful country. Whether you want to prepare for a trip to India or you are missing the country after a visit, these novels offer a glimpse of life in the country of contrasts that is India. Delve into some fascinating books before, during, or after a trip to India to gain a better understanding of this country. Here are some of our favorite books about India!
1. A Fine Balance, Rohinton Mistry
A Fine Balance is an impressive novel by Indo-Canadian author Rohinton Mistry which tells the life stories of four individuals whose paths cross in 1970s India. The four protagonists come from different backgrounds, but share common struggles under the state of emergency laws and Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
The book sheds light on the problems of the caste system and the powerlessness of individuals against societal norms and the arbitrariness of those in power. However, the story weaves in moments of humanity shared by the protagonists even amidst all the problems, making for a captivating read. The reader learns a lot, in a remarkably sensitive way, about the factors that shape the realities of many Indians. Although the book is around 20 years old, it still manages to capture the essence of India in a beautiful way.
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2. The White Tiger, Aravind Adiga
Winner of the Man Booker Prize (2008), The White Tiger might be the most popular Indian novel of the last decade. The book tells the story of Balram Halwai, a son of a rickshaw driver, who worked his way up to being an entrepreneur in Bangalore. However, this isn’t a feel-good story. Instead, it gives a glimpse into the darker sides of Indian society through the life story of the protagonist narrated in the form of letters absurdly addressed to the Chinese Premier. An over-the-top story full of dark humor, The White Tiger impressively portrays the shortcomings of Indian society. Fast-paced and easy to read, this novel should definitely be on your list.
3. Behind the Beautiful Forevers: Life, Death, and Hope in a Mumbai Undercity, Katherine Boo
In this book, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Katherine Boo tells the stories of the people living in Annawadi, one of the slums in Mumbai. The stories are about the survival of the fittest in a hostile environment on one hand, and about hope, relationships, and love on the other. The cruel way of life showcased in the book can get difficult to read at times, but in the end, it’s just about humans, their emotions, hopes, and desires like anybody else’s. Boo has created a fictional novel that feels real — and that’s what makes this book so interesting, especially if you want to get a sense of the country’s poverty and the potential of the people living in the slums.
4. Maximum City: Bombay Lost and Found, Suketu Mehta
Raised in the USA, author Suketu Mehta returns to Mumbai, his homeland, as an adult. To deal with his overwhelming thoughts and emotions, he researches stories about the fascinating lives of people looking to make it big in the city – from transgender nightclub dancers and corrupt Bollywood producers to overzealous police inspectors, street boys, and rival underground gangs. He uncovers the dark secrets of this megacity while shedding light on the shortcomings of Indian society and culture. Mehta has a talent for getting people to open up and telling him their personal stories, which might seem unbelievable to the readers who grew up in the West.
See also: Things to do in Mumbai
5. The First Firangis: Remarkable Stories of Heroes, Healers, Charlatans, Courtesans & Other Foreigners Who Became Indian, Jonathan Gil Harris
It wasn’t just the British and Portuguese who were the first firangis (foreigners) to come to India. Long before them, Mongols, Greeks, Persians, Armenians, and others came to India as healers, artists, soldiers, or even courtesans. The book is a story about the history of the Indian subcontinent as foreigners arrived as political or religious refugees, slaves, adventurers, or simply to escape poverty and made the country their home. The author tells the stories of these unique individuals and his experiences in the country.
6. The Amazing Story of a Man who Cycled from India to Europe for Love, Per J. Andersson
A story so unbelievable that it cannot be fiction, the book is about Pikay, a Dalit living in a small village in eastern India. However, he grows up in a time when the caste system seems to be dissolving and everyone holds their fate in their hands, but prejudices still exist for the poorest. Pikay moves to Delhi to try his luck as an artist and fights for survival every day while painting portraits of famous people. At his birth, it had been predicted that he would one day meet a girl from a distant land and follow her out of love, and it is his predestined fate that allows him to overcome all odds.
The story is mainly about his life on the lowest rung of society, his thoughts on this injustice, and a poor resident’s perspective about India’s transformation after independence. The book also covers the backpacker route from India to Europe in the 1970s and the differences between the two cultures and societies, but it mainly deals with the caste system still prevailing in modern Indian society.
7. Shantaram, Gregory David Roberts
Fleeing from the Interpol, the Australian Lindsay lands in Bombay, where he meets Prabhakar, an Indian who takes Lindsay under his wing. As a deep friendship develops between the two, Lindsay learns about the “real” India through Prabhakar, and comes to terms with himself. But things get really interesting when Lindsay meets influential men from Bombay’s underworld and falls in love with the beautiful Karla. Roberts takes us through the slums and underworld of Bombay, an Indian village, and Afghanistan in the 1980s. The most incredible part is that Lindsay’s story is actually the story of the author Gregory David Roberts!
See also: Best time to visit India
We hope this selection of our favorite books about India inspires you to explore this fascinating country with all its contrasts yourself. Did we miss a great novel about India? Leave a comment below! And if you are now thinking of a trip to India, contact us and we will help you plan the perfect trip to India based on your preferences!
