This Republic Day, the theme is “Swarnim Bharat: Virasat aur Vikas” (Golden India; Legacy and Progress). In keeping with this theme, my dad and I have put our heads together to bring to you our top five reads.
Modern Indian Literature edited by Professor Amit Chaudhuri is a collection of modernist essays that throw light on our country’s rich literary heritage. The anthology consists of extracts from books, essays, and articles from thirty-eight Indian authors writing in English and also including translations from Hindi, Bengali and Urdu works.
English, August is the debut novel of author, bureaucrat and Sahitya Akademi Award winner Upamanyu Chatterjee who is sapped by his government job, The novel deals with everyday Indian realities in a humorous way.
The Golden Road by noted historian and author William Dalrymple describes in detail the ancient maritime trade between India and countries to its East and West and its contributions to art, architecture, science and technology, religion and ethics in ancient times.
Indian Feminine Fury by Manjima Misra is a well-researched modern-day attempt at Wollstonecraft’s ‘A Vindication of the Rights of Woman. ‘It’s a must-read for all human beings and feminists.
The Bad Cook’s Guide to Indian Cooking is a beautiful collage of a book that’s been put together by the author with love. It consists of beautiful illustrations to go with the recipes. Since cooking is a life skill, everyone would benefit from reading this book.
Which one are you going to pick up? Do let me know in the comments section.
