Two questions about India/book recs about

[Anonymous]

I would like a recommendation for an overview about British colonialism in India. I have only the broadest sketches but I don’t want a book that is bogged down completely in minutiae. Is there something that’s really readable (if rage inducing/depressing)?

And are there any books that talk about the regional “flavors” of India? I know no broad sketches about Indian culture like I do about American regional qualities and quirks. I’m not looking for stereotypes, but in the way that if someone says they were born in Alabama there’s a decent chance that they strongly identify with their church and heritage, have a decent familiarity with football and football culture, they’re more likely to vote Republican… that kind of thing. My kids’ school is fifty percent Indian kids and I feel like I know very little culturally about India. (I did once take a college course that was supposed to be about India but the professor wanted us to challenge our assumptions and it was like, lady, I don’t know enough about India or any Indians to have assumptions; that’s why I’m taking a class).

[Anonymous]

My Indian grandmother was a PhD in Indian history, specializing in the colonial era, and she recommended William Dalrymple to people asking for book recommendations. I don’t know which book in particular, but I believe she read most or all of his books and respected his work.

[Anonymous]

another vote for William Dalrymple .. but take him with a grain of salt.. your younger generation of Indians find him rather insufferable but someone of my parents/grandparents generation were born and lived in the Raj and so they are used to interacting with that sort of Englishman. he's also probably more friendly to the Mughals and modern indian s think that Muslims are the first brutal colonizing power and are a foreign ethnic group .. William Dalrymple doesnt accept that BJP slant so its something to be aware of when interacting with the younger indian families at your kids school. I wonder if Thomas Friedman has written anything about modern India that might helpful. if not a book, essays. the economist has good coverage of indian matters as well. and its pretty well regarded.

[Anonymous]

Thank you to you both, I will look him up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:another vote for William Dalrymple .. but take him with a grain of salt.. your younger generation of Indians find him rather insufferable but someone of my parents/grandparents generation were born and lived in the Raj and so they are used to interacting with that sort of Englishman. he's also probably more friendly to the Mughals and modern indian s think that Muslims are the first brutal colonizing power and are a foreign ethnic group .. William Dalrymple doesnt accept that BJP slant so its something to be aware of when interacting with the younger indian families at your kids school. I wonder if Thomas Friedman has written anything about modern India that might helpful. if not a book, essays. the economist has good coverage of indian matters as well. and its pretty well regarded.

This post highlights that India is not one monolithic place or culture, but a collection of 28 states and 8 union territories. The experience of British (and other) colonialism was not uniform either throughout the country or over time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:another vote for William Dalrymple .. but take him with a grain of salt.. your younger generation of Indians find him rather insufferable but someone of my parents/grandparents generation were born and lived in the Raj and so they are used to interacting with that sort of Englishman. he's also probably more friendly to the Mughals and modern indian s think that Muslims are the first brutal colonizing power and are a foreign ethnic group .. William Dalrymple doesnt accept that BJP slant so its something to be aware of when interacting with the younger indian families at your kids school. I wonder if Thomas Friedman has written anything about modern India that might helpful. if not a book, essays. the economist has good coverage of indian matters as well. and its pretty well regarded.

This post highlights that India is not one monolithic place or culture, but a collection of 28 states and 8 union territories. The experience of British (and other) colonialism was not uniform either throughout the country or over time.

I know that. Which is why I’m seeking out a book that can help me learn more about how it was over time and place. OP.

[Anonymous]

What about fictional books based in India? The posters on this question seem pretty well informed about non-fictional books about India, but I'd love to know what you thought of fiction books that entertain you while best representing the culture / history

[Anonymous]

I’ve read Raj — but can’t assess it beyond it’s qualities as a novel.


https://www.amazon.com/Raj-Novel-Gita-Mehta/dp/1982144793/ref=sr_1_15?crid=21RDW4PN79QK7&keywords=Raj&qid=1668111329&s=books&sprefix=raj%2Cstripbooks%2C155&sr=1-15

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’ve read Raj — but can’t assess it beyond it’s qualities as a novel.


https://www.amazon.com/Raj-Novel-Gita-Mehta/dp/1982144793/ref=sr_1_15?crid=21RDW4PN79QK7&keywords=Raj&qid=1668111329&s=books&sprefix=raj%2Cstripbooks%2C155&sr=1-15

Thank you. This looks great.

[Anonymous]

Ruth Jhabvala. All of her books

[Anonymous]

Indian here. Second the recommendation for William Dalrymple. I just finished his book "The Anarchy" and it was a great read - tells the story of the East India Company, the world's first (or one of the first) evil corporation. White Moghuls is another great one.

I'd also recommend Edward Luce's book "In Spite of the Gods". He was the India bureau chief for the FT for 5 years and makes some astute observations about modern India. Somewhat unnecesary preachy conclusion, but overall a good read and I think he's an excellent journalist too.

Maximum City is a great book about Mumbai, India's biggest city.

Of course no list of Indian writers can leave out Salman Rushdie - Midnight's Children is quite monumental.
Other fiction, you can't go wrong with Vikram Seth's "The Suitable Boy" though it's long. I also love Amitav Ghosh's work and highly recommend "Sea of Poppies" which isn't restricted to India, but tells the story of the opium trade around the world.
RK Narayan is another one, tells everyday stories set in a fictional town in South India, a la William Faulkner. Bapsi Sidhwa's Cracking India tells a tough story, that of Partition.
There are lots of good writers in English from India. Many more than I can type out into a single post!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Indian here. Second the recommendation for William Dalrymple. I just finished his book "The Anarchy" and it was a great read - tells the story of the East India Company, the world's first (or one of the first) evil corporation. White Moghuls is another great one.

I'd also recommend Edward Luce's book "In Spite of the Gods". He was the India bureau chief for the FT for 5 years and makes some astute observations about modern India. Somewhat unnecesary preachy conclusion, but overall a good read and I think he's an excellent journalist too.

Maximum City is a great book about Mumbai, India's biggest city.

Of course no list of Indian writers can leave out Salman Rushdie - Midnight's Children is quite monumental.
Other fiction, you can't go wrong with Vikram Seth's "The Suitable Boy" though it's long. I also love Amitav Ghosh's work and highly recommend "Sea of Poppies" which isn't restricted to India, but tells the story of the opium trade around the world.
RK Narayan is another one, tells everyday stories set in a fictional town in South India, a la William Faulkner. Bapsi Sidhwa's Cracking India tells a tough story, that of Partition.
There are lots of good writers in English from India. Many more than I can type out into a single post!

DP: Just want you to know that this list is much appreciated! I’d definitely be interested if you decide to expand your list with a few more posts.

[Anonymous]

Another DP- I'm on my library waitlist for Midnight's Children after watching Ms Marvel and wanting to learn more about Partition...preferably via historical fiction. Appreciate these other recs!

[Anonymous]

Inglorious Empire by Shashi Tharoor.

I’m not a huge fan of Tharoor in general but this book is the best one on Colonialism in India.

[Anonymous]

Other fiction about India I've read:

White Tiger by Aravind Adiga
A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry

A light choice - two mystery series:
Sujata Massey's series featuring Perveen Mistry set in 1920s india
A Rising Man

Jhumpa Lahiri's books give a good perspective on the immigrant experience