The cover of The Great Partition by Yasmin Khan

10 Best Books on the History of India


 

The best place to learn more and get great details about a country is by perusing through pages. Several authors have done extensive research on past events that made the country.

This is no different from India. India boasts of being the oldest civilised nation in the world. The written history of India dates back to the Vedas.

India’s history has been influenced by several kings, queens, emperors and religions.

If you are in search of interesting facts about Indian history and culture; then, here is the list of the 10 best books on Indian history. Enjoy your read!

1. Prehistory and Protohistory of India: An Appraisal by VK Jain

Jain has covered several topics in this book. Some of the topics covered are technologies, settlements, existence patterns and ecological background.

He also covers the Megalithic Principles of peninsular India. The book has maps, line drawings and descriptive notes on individual sites.

The book presents a mixed view of the latest information on various aspects such as settlement and subsistence patterns, ecological background and distributional configuration.

2. A Corner of a Foreign Field by Ramachandra Guha

The Cover of A Corner of a Foreign Field by Ramachandra Guha

If you love sports and would love to know more about India’s history through sports, this is the book for you. One of India’s most famous sports is cricket.

Guha provides a fascinating peek into the way this British sport made its entry into India ending as a national obsession.

He begins with the Parsis and their matches in Bombay’s maidans. It tells in detail how cricket influenced India’s society.

The author looks at the lives of English cricketers Lord Harris and D. R. Jardine who were representatives of the then British territory.

In other chapters of the book, he explores the competition between Hindu and Muslim cricketers in colonial India as well as the extraordinary passions experienced when India plays Pakistan.

3. India after Gandhi: The History of the World’s Largest Democracy by Ramachandra Guha

This book is considered one of the best books on Indian History. The book provides thorough comprehension of the political history of the 2nd half of the 20th century.

Ramachandra Guha focuses on modern India especially the socio-economic conditions after independence i.e. 1947 to 1990.

It is the perfect book to understand the evolution of Modern India. He has expertly covered the partition, Nehru’s socialist policies, Rajiv Gandhi’s brief but impactful career, the rise of religion and caste-based politics.

Guha is regarded as one of the most talented historians in India. He uses his talent as a writer to articulate the story in beautiful prose.

4. India: A History by John Keay

The cover of India: A History by John Keay

This next book was written by an English journalist and author who has written several other popular histories about India. He particularly focuses on their colonisation and exploration by Europeans.

In this particular book, he looks at the cities of Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro of the Indus Valley civilizations to current modern India.

The book has improved maps and photographs that offer an in-depth look at the history of India through a chronological review of the major events. These events transformed India’s diverse cultures and traditions

This book is considered a perfect textbook for any student in India.

5. The Last Mughal: The Fall of a Dynasty: Delhi, 1857 by William Dalrymple

William Dalrymple is an award-winning historian and travel writer. In this book, he talks about a culturally diverse and rich society during the rule of Bahadur Shah Zafar, the last Mughal emperor.

Going back to 1857, this was the first war against the British. The war is popularly known as the Sepoy Mutinee. It was this war that marked the end of the Mughal rule.

The author lists how the events unfolded and their impact on the country both politically and culturally. It also provides the stories of many individuals of the time who met tragic ends.

William’s writing style and flair for capturing insights make this book a must-read.

6. The Great Partition by Yasmin Khan

The cover of The Great Partition by Yasmin Khan

Yasmin Khan is another British writer who offers a historical account of the Partition of India in this book. Khan looks at the context and decisions which led to partition while analysing the execution and aftermath of Partition.

In the book, you will read about the tragic human cost and the effects of Partition that are felt today.

While the partition was carefully planned, it was abandoned in a rush and recklessness with which it was completed and the damaging legacy that is left behind.

She further uses the views of common people intertwined with politics. Yasmin is currently a professor at the University of Oxford.

7. Clear Light of Day by Anita Desai

This book was published in 1980 by an award-winning author who was nominated thrice for the Booker Prize.

In this book, Anita talks about tensions in a family post the partition era. She looks at the Das family’s perspective while living in Old Delhi.

Their story is divided into 4 parts that follow the age group line ending with them in their adulthood. This was when they broke away.

In the second part of the book, the partition era is discussed. While in the last part, modern India is depicted.

8. The Wonder That Was India By A L Basham

Cover of The Wonder That Was India By A L Basham

This book takes you through India’s religion, politics, literature, music, and society in ancient times. The book shines a light on various languages, social evolution, culture, and traditions right from Harappan Civilization to the advent of Aryans.

Basham explores early periods that throw light on India’s rich cultural heritage. He also traces different periods and eras of Indian history with a wide-ranging source of text that is simple to understand and keeps the reader engaged.

In the book, you will get to learn more about the common beliefs and influences of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.

9. The Emergency: A Personal History by Coomi Kapoor

This book is an eyewitness account of the dark days of the Emergency period from 1975 to 1977. During this period, Coomi Kapoor was a young journalist who experienced the full fury of the establishment.

During this period, there were forced sterilizations, brutal evictions and unjustified imprisonments.

She uses her experience to recreate the drama, the horror and heroism of a few during those distressing times.

10. Half-Lion: How P.V Narasimha Rao Transformed India by Vinay Sitapati

The cover of Half-Lion: How P.V Narasimha Rao Transformed India by Vinay Sitapati

This book is an absolute biography of P.V. Narasimha Rao. Through it, Vinay gives insight into the history of India when it was on the brink of financial collapse.

The author got access to Rao’s never-before-seen personal papers and interviews that reveal the Indian economy, nuclear programme, foreign policy and Babri Masjid.

If you have been curious about learning more about Narasimha Rao, the man who transformed India, grab a copy of this book.

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