Indian books and authors

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Justmoi

@Justmoi

Rocker

Posted: 8 years ago

My background - I am of Indian origin, living abroad. I don't have exposure or know about Indian authors.

I am looking for Indian authors and Indian stories to read. Please recommend your favorites. Contemporary stories and ancient ones welcome. I know the main story of the Ramayana and Mahabharata. Not many of the side ones except famous ones like the Karna story.

Also, I would like to learn about Indian history. What are some good books. I know the Mughals vaguely, Ashoka. Now Baji Rao because of the movie. Nothing more. Thank you.

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745671

Suspended

Posted: 8 years ago

^You're asking in the wrong place. I don't think people who spend 24/7 bashing and worshipping stars on IF are going to be big on reading books. 😆

I'm in the same boat as you as I don't live in India and don't know a lot about it. However, if you're looking for historical books, you might try Khushwant Singh's books. He was extremely prolific. An author I came across recently is Rana Dasgupta who is also an NRI but returned to Delhi and a wrote a fabulous book called Capital about the city. It's worth reading if you're interested in the more current India. William Dalrymple is a white guy and writes from a more foreign perspective on India. It was easier for me to get into since he wasn't an insider just like myself. City of Jinns is a nice mixture of both the history of the mughals and the remnants left behind on contemporary India from those days.

If you're looking for fiction, there is an enormous amount available. It depends on your tastes. Just avoid Chetan Bhagat and all his copycats.

Edited by anonymous39 - 8 years ago

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pallavi25

@pallavi25

Inactive

+ 5

Posted: 8 years ago

If you want to learn a lot abt Indian history and mythology the fastest and easiest way is to read Amar Chitra Katha comic books

They have all the major Kings, Sultans, Mughal rulers, revolutionaries stories in short form

They also have some mythological comics

I think u can get them at Amazon

or u can try bookstores when u visit India

If any of those stories interest u and you want to learn more abt a particular King or leader then just read his or her Wikipedia

In fiction, best Hindi writer is Premchand, his short stories are the best

There are a lot of famous Bengali authors like Saratchandra Chattopadhyay (who wrote Devdas), Bibhuti Bhushan Bandopadhyay (who wrote the Apu Trilogy, 1st one was Pather Panchali) and of course Rabindranath Tagore's novels and short stories

You can get all of these in translation

If you like detective stories, then Sharadindu's Byomkesh series, Satyajit Rays Feluda series will interest u...also available in translation

Indo American writers, I really like Jhumpa Lahiri, I feel her words, seems like shes writing my feelings and those of our kids who grow up in US

Also Chitra Divakaruni wrote a few good novels, try them

will post more when I remember

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@Ranbirrocks

Stunner

+ 4

Posted: 8 years ago

Pallavi gave a good list.

If you want to move away from history, try RK Narayan books - specially Swami and Friends.

Google RK Narayan and you'll find list of many books. They are all good.

I'll edit it later.

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CherHorowitz

@TotalBetty

Sparkler

+ 3

Posted: 8 years ago

You must've heard about "God of small things"

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745671

Suspended

Posted: 8 years ago

oh man, I hated God of Small Things. It does provide an interesting look at communism but ugh I can't handle the incest.

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1101232

Suspended

Posted: 8 years ago

I can only recommend two authors MB books at this moment.

A. Kishori Mohan Ganguly. Its available on net as well, also you can read other stuffs in that site too.
Here's the link http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/maha/

B.Also, there's Bibek Debroy's translated version of BORI critical edition. Its separated in many volumes. You've to order it from Amazon!

Link http://www.amazon.in/gp/aw/s/ref=is_s_ss_i_1_6?k=bibek+debroy+mahabharata&sprefix=Bibek+

Edited by NadanParindey - 8 years ago

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CherHorowitz

@TotalBetty

Sparkler

+ 3

Posted: 8 years ago

Originally posted by: anonymous39
oh man, I hated God of Small Things. It does provide an interesting look at communism but ugh I can't handle the incest.

I had mixed feelings about the book,

When I started reading I liked it, as the book progressed not so much, when I finished it disliked it

I have to say it's very cleverly written

Your posts should have a spoiler warning 😆

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CherHorowitz

@TotalBetty

Sparkler

+ 3

Posted: 8 years ago

I only mentioned it bcz it became the best selling book by a non expatriate Indian author And it might help the TM (if she's not put off by it and manages to finish the book 😆 ) to get an understanding about caste system, religion in India and also how women were/are treated

I have read some of Arundhati Roy's articles on social issues and I have to say her writing style is so lucid, she has a way with words. Even when I disagree with her ( and I do most of the time) still enjoy her writing style

She comes across as a radical leftist, sometimes too much even for liberals in India, many think she's eyeing Nobel Prize, bcz of the way she acts sometimes 😆

Edited by ---Betty--- - 8 years ago