Journey across India through these books that shed light on the intriguing history, wildlife, and vibrant culture of the country. By Amitha Ameen
INDIAN SUMMER: THE SECRET HISTORY OF THE END OF AN EMPIRE
Alex von Tunzelmann
Author Alex von Tunzelmann’s book offers an engaging take on the Independence and Partition of India, and the aftermath. While the book mainly focusses on the lives of the Mountbattens and the Nehru family, it also offers interesting perspectives on other famous changemakers, including Mahatma Gandhi, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, and Winston Churchill.
PRICE INR 1,000/USD 13
AVAILABLE ON amazon.in
MAN-EATERS OF KUMAON
Jim Corbett
This is a gripping chronicle of maneating tigers penned down by hunter turned-naturalist Jim Corbett. The book narrates the author’s experiences in the Kumaon region of India in 10 riveting stories about tracking and shooting fierce man-eaters from the 1900s to the 1930s. With interesting titbits about rural India thrown in, it makes for a great read.
PRICE INR 211/USD 3
AVAILABLE ON flipkart.com
STAYING ON
Paul Scott
This Booker Prize winner follows the lives of Colonel Tusker and Lucy Smalley who continue
to stay in the hills of Pankot after Indian Independence deprives them of their erstwhile
status. Fed up with accommodating her husband, Lucy Smalley claims independence
for herself. A moving read with hilarious bits, the book talks about loneliness, rage, and stubborn affection in a marriage.
PRICE INR 450/USD 6
AVAILABLE ON flipkart.com
THE WONDER THAT WAS INDIA
Arthur Llewellyn Basham
If you want a book detailing the history of India, look no further. From the Indus Valley
civilisation to the Aryan and Mughal invasions, The Wonder That Was India covers everything the land has witnessed. The author also gives insights into modern Indian society and how it became a confluence of varied cultures.
PRICE INR 500/USD 7
AVAILABLE ON amazon.in
IN SPITE OF THE GODS: THE RISE OF MODERN INDIA
Edward Luce
Celebrated journalist Edward Luce’s analytical book is the result of his travels across India. He examines the social and economical issues plaguing the country, despite it being the world’s largest democracy and one of the fastest-growing economies. The author also reveals to the non-Indian reader, the Indian phenomena of tradition coexisting with modernity.
PRICE INR 578/USD 8
AVAILABLE ON flipkart.com
Related: #TnlBookClub: These Travel Books Will Take You On A Journey Across India