India is amongst the largest and most diverse countries in the world – here are a few authors who have made the most riveting attempts at impossible task of capturing it.
Not Only The Things That Have Happened by Mridula Koshy
Why you should read it: Not Only The Things That Have Happened tells the story of a mother who loses her son, and of how the boy becomes a man. The most engaging part of the novel is that it's told over a 36 hour period, in which time acts as a sort of narrator, taking us through decades and back.
Cuckold by Kiran Nagarkar.
Why you should read it: Cuckold is a novel based in 16th century India, dealing with the lives of a very powerful ruling family. The novel stands out among others like it because of its raw representations of sex and scandal. Nagarkar constructs a story that is ostensibly about love, but allows the reader to explore the internal struggle of a man when faced with betrayal, loss, and war.
A House For Mr. Biswas by V.S. Naipaul
Why you should read it: Its protagonist, Mohan Biswas, is a classic anti-hero, simultaneously despicable and compelling.
The Shadow Lines by Amitav Ghosh.
Why you should read it: Ghosh brilliantly intertwines the traditions, cultures and histories of people from across the world, and paints a picture of a combined consciousness.
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34 Books By Indian Authors That Everyone Should Read