If you want to know India—read India. It's not just the rich culture that resounds through the pages but the literature, languages, and stories rooted in lived experience.
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| (I wish I could cover my text-books looked like this!) |
Beyond the famous names of Arundhati Roy, Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni, and Chetan Bhagat, there’s a whole world of hidden gem Indian authors whose stories may be overlooked by mainstream media—but stay with readers forever.
Here are my favourite 5—
1) Meena Kandasamy—When I Hit You
Theme: Domestic abuse, patriarchy, and society
Plot: Our protagonist, a young author, falls in love with a professor and gets married to him. Shortly after her marriage, she is doomed by the patriarchy that has bogged down the minds of people around her and a traumatic, abusive partner. This book is an attempt to unveil the inner conflict and obstacles a woman faces when the societal glorification of marriage and adjustments that question her own personality arise.
I absolutely loved this book due to its unfiltered and raw conversation. It's extremely easy to pinpoint why and how an educated woman like our protagonist did not speak up when the abuse started, but again our society questions the victim's every move more than the perpetrator's.
I must say this book is disturbing; for some, it might feel like a known story of their neighbourhood or their own life.
Book Stars: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ ✅(4.2/5)
2) Gita Hariharan—The Thousand Faces of Night
Theme: Generational gaps, Search for the self.
Plot: Plot: Devi returns from America with a degree while her mother, Sita, sets her up in an arranged marriage situation. Mayamma is an older woman who works as their househelp. The story follows their lives and how these three women of different age groups are oppressed by patriarchy and religious norms and how they lift each other up.
The bond between the mother and daughter made me read this book. The wonderful use of folklore to highlight the narration was plausible. This book will leave you on a sweeter note.
Book Stars: ⭐⭐⭐⭐(4/5)
3) Perumal Murugan — One Part Woman
Theme: Societal stigma of childlessness, love and bond between two people in a marriage
Plot: The lives of Kali and Ponna have been cordial, but the blot of childlessness has made their lives miserable. Societal taunts and humiliation, especially towards Ponna, take them to the limit of their efforts to have a child. They turn towards controversial religious rituals that question one's moral compass.
“The wretched people around us do not see what a man has. They only see what he does not have.” This excerpt from the book enlightens us on the force of societal pressure that makes a man question himself.
This book is a part of a trilogy, and though I haven't had time to read the rest, this made me feel so regressive even in the 21st century. Is having a child the sole purpose of a woman in this world?
Book Stars: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐(4.6/5)
4) Hansda Sowvendra Shekhar—The Adivasi Will Not Dance
Theme: Tribal resistance, neoliberal development, and impact on Tribes
Plot: A collection of short stories from the heart of tribal India — Jharkhand. These stories are raw and beautifully project how Adivasis see their land and forests even today.
This book is perfect for people who want to know about tribal resistance and their love for nature. (I am currently reading this and I am yet to finish it.)
I have read about the historical uprisings that were pivotal during our freedom struggle, especially from the tribes who, even though few in number, never gave up protecting their lands.
This book gave me an insight into their daily life stories and their emotions, where development feels forced rather than aligned with their needs.
Book Stars: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.3/5)
5) Tishani Doshi – Girls Are Coming Out of the Woods
Theme: Violence against women, resilience and Desires
Plot: A collection of poems that will project sadness, helplessness, anger, grief, and hope, all together, and will leave you with a long-lasting impression.
The poems will dance on your mind while their meaning will make you dive deep into yourself to discover the womanhood that went through all the trouble and still didn't succumb to it; but a question arises: why is it always a woman who is subjected to this pain?
I personally like the set of poems that feel more uncomfortable over a bunch of happy fantasy.
(I m still reading this, I will finish it soon)
Book Stars: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐( 5/5)
I enjoyed these books even though they are uncommon on popular forums. Those who read them know which Indian society and its norms fall into our day-to-day life and how these books portray them to the fullest.
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