Books are & should be an inseparable part of our lives. They teach us to emote, live, think in our own way. Here is a list of must-read books which our readers have found extremely good to read.
(List is in no particular order)
The Home and the World by Rabindranath Tagore
Set on a Bengali noble’s estate in 1908, this is both a love story and a novel of political awakening. The central character, Bimala, is torn between the duties owed to her husband, Nikhil, and the demands made on her by the radical leader, Sandip. Her attempts to resolve the irreconcilable pressures of the home and world reflect the conflict in India itself, and the tragic outcome foreshadows the unrest that accompanied Partition in 1947.
I Follow After by Lakshmibai Tilak
This is the English translation of the first three parts of Tilak’s autobiography, Smriti Chitra, written in Marathi and first published between 1934 and 1937. Delineating the fascinating relationship between the author and her eccentric husband Tilak, the book paints a vivid picture of life in early twentieth-century India.
Ancient Promises by Jaishree Misra
Young and vulnerable, Janu gave up Arjun, her first love, to enter into an arranged marriage. Years later, she is miserable, having been gradually shut out by the coldness of her husband’s family and his indifference to her and her daughter’s needs.
Finally she flees to England to escape the loveless union—but at what price to herself and those she loves? The moving story of one woman’s painful journey of self-discovery, Ancient Promises is about a marriage, a divorce, and motherhood. It is about why we love and lose, sometimes seeming to have little control over our destinies.
Ladies Coupé by Anita Nair
Although a lot of people might disagree with me, I have always believed that feminism in India is at a different level than feminism in the rest of the world. And this book renders a healthy dose of just that… Indian feminism. Each one of us have our own ‘acceptable’ and ‘unacceptable’ stuff, depending on our situation in life and in society. What is acceptable to one may be unacceptable to another, and vice versa. And we don’t have a problem with that either. This richness…this potpourri…this wonderful myriad of emotions has been wonderfully captured by Anita Nair in this masterpiece. A definitely worthy read…especially by Indian women.
Nectar in a Sieve by Kamala Markandaya
Named Notable Book of 1955 by the American Library Association, this is the very moving story of a peasant woman in a primitive village in India whose whole life was a gallant and persistent battle to care for those she loved.
Did we miss any of your favorite book? Write it down below in the comments. We will surely give it a mention here.
Happy Reading.
