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India has produced many honored and highly praised English novel writers, who have acquired impressive literary awards in the last few decades. English has been passed in India as a grand ritual, the novels written in it are deeply rich, expressive and culturally embedded. Here are the top five books that every Indian must read in lifetime, to know the true essence of India.
Best Rated Books That Every Indian Must Read
1Mulk Raj Anand’s Untouchable
The book takes you through a day, in the life of Bakha, who is an 18-year old sweeper, he has the responsibilities of cleaning public toilets of his city, which is considered as untouchable act. It takes you through the hard moments, that wonders you for the reason that, why were people treated as untouchables. In this book, the boy keeps searching for answers, and reaches to an unexpected conclusion. Mulk Raj Anand wrote the book “Untouchable” in 1935.
2Khushwant Singh’s Train to Pakistan
The book, Train to Pakistan, brings every terrible story that you have heard about the partition in life. Khushwant Singh, the author highlights how things around religion are too sensitive in India, and may always will be the same. Few things are painful and unbelievable, while others look deep inside the hearts of helpless and vulnerable people. If you have been deceived by partition, then this is certainly one of the best historical fiction books.
3Devdutt Patnaik’s Jaya
Devdutt Patnaik has given the best epic of 108 chapters, 250 drawing lines and infinite variations of Mahabharata in Indian mythology. The concepts of justice and rules are explained with clear vision. As a reader, you may not have any issues after reading “Jaya” as you may be filled with the information, that you never knew earlier about Mahabharata.
4Chitra Banerjee Devakurni’s The Palace of Illusions
For stepping into Draupadi’s shoes and writing a male leading epic from a woman’s point of view, Chitra Banerjee get most percent of marks. She described emotions like love, jealousy and insecurity leaves you for wanting more. Few people argue that Chitra Banerjee makes Draupadi more complicated, than actually required. But, she dominated all those with her master story narration. It is certainly the greatest written fictional book of the Mahabharata.
5R.K. Narayan’s Malgudi Days
We hardly find people who missed reading this book, but for the one who missed out reading this book, it would be one of your favorite. Malgudi Days is that one book which has to be placed on your bookshelf. The author, R.K Narayan, looked out the window and picked a character, and that is how he got his stories. People love reading his stories as it has the essence of India at every nook and corner of his book. So, do not miss reading his stories, as you would definitely relate yourself somewhere or the other.
-Nikisha Uddagiri
