Top 6 Non-Fiction Books by Indian Authors

“To read is to voyage through time.” This quote by Carl Sagan rightly encapsulates what books are to a reader. Non-fiction books are books steeped in reality, and they enable a reader to gain knowledge about several matters. There is a vast ocean of non-fiction books, available today. Here is a list of six unmissable non-fiction books written by Indian authors.

1. India after Gandhi, by Ramchandran Guha

Ramachandran Guha’s ‘India after Gandhi’ is a stellar book, published in 2007 by Harper Collins India. The book traces the evolution of India as the world’s largest democracy, through the contemporary era. The book has been written in a lucid style, is peppered with authentic facts, and discusses India’s history with a neutral purview. The book is backed by extensive research, and talks of India’s triumphs, failures, humiliations and glories as an independent nation.

2. The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer by Siddhartha Mukherjee

Heralded as the ‘gem’ of India’s non fiction literature, The Emperor of All Maladies is a must-read. A profound, deep take on the endemic of cancer, it is beautifully written and emanates a sense of humanity. Written by physician-oncologist Siddhartha Mukherjee, it broaches the subject with a clinical perspective, and is an enlightening read. It begins with an account of the historical mentions of cancer, and goes on to describe the future of cancer treatments. Loved by academicians and scholars alike, the book also caters to common audience, seeking to gain a better understanding of the disease. The book was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for General Non-Fiction in 2011.

3. Caste Matters by Suraj Yengde

This non fiction book grapples with the sensitive issue of casteism in India, through the lived experiences of a first-generation Dalit scholar. The book views the prevalence of casteism with an intersectional lens, and discusses the trials and tribulations faced by the community since time immemorial. It challenges Brahmanical perspectives, and is a shocking wake up call about the modern-day discriminatory practices that exist. It reflects the true-world reality, and concludes with how caste will continue to matter, until effective transformation takes place.

4. The Argumentative Indian: Writings on Indian History, Culture and Identity by Amartya Sen

Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen’s anthology, “The Argumentative Indian” is a collection of essays pertaining to the development of India’s identity and history. This non fiction title is heavy on analysis, and draws from Mr. Sen’s lifelong study of India as a nation. Written in the narrative style, it contains sixteen linked essays that describe India with an intellectually eclectic approach. The book revels in the beautiful history of our country, and is a thoughtful take on pluralism and diversity. Highly acclaimed and the one among the favorites of the likes of scholars, this book is sure to equip you with a nuanced understanding of the nation we live in today.

5. Dongri To Dubai: Six Decades of The Mumbai Mafia by Husain Zaidi

Mumbai’s underworld has always been a subject of fascination for the general public and policy makers alike. Husain Zaidi’s masterpiece is sure to leave you astounded with the revelations it makes about the mafia in Mumbai. Written through an objective lens, this is a non-fiction book that leaves readers spellbound through its unique narrative, which tells real – life tales of the rise of the much – feared underworld dons. Their rags to riches rollercoaster journey, and the notoriety associated with some of these big shots has been unabashedly explored by Zaidi. If true crime and mafia genres thrill you, then this book must surely adorn your bookshelf.

6. Why I am a Hindu by Shashi Tharoor

In the words of Ms.Neera Chandhoke, “Tharoor takes us for a leisurely walk in the thickets of Hinduism and chronicles the making of Hindutva. He concludes that Hindutva as politics simply does not cohere to the precepts of Hinduism.” True to her words, the book “Why I am a Hindu”, written by Shashi Tharoor is a versatile exploration of the complex concepts. It sets to unpack the myths and mysteries that shroud the world’s oldest religion. The book is written in an impeccable manner, and is sure to transport the reader through eons of evolution of Hinduism.

These non-fiction books are sure to quench your thirst for knowledge and will add immense value to your reading list. In the words of Charles Baudelaire, “A book is a garden, an orchard, a storehouse, a party, a company by the way, a counselor, a multitude of counselors.”