My Top Ten Books featuring India/Indian origin protagonists

by Renita D'Silva

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10 books

I grew up in India and now live in the UK so books set in India and/or featuring characters of Indian origin resonate with me, more so since my own books are partly set in India and invariably have at least one Indian protagonist. It intrigues me how the different authors I’ve chosen here write in different styles, and yet each of their stories is absorbing and transporting and thought provoking, dealing with themes of identity and displacement and belonging. There is such a wealth of books featuring India that I found it very hard to choose and narrow down the list to ten books. But I did and here it is.

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The God of Small Things

Arundhati Roy, 2011

I read The God of Small things when it came out and it made a big impression on me. I was at university, studying engineering but secretly wanting to be a writer and the sheer beauty of Arundhati Roy’s prose, her writing style, the way she was able to get inside the mind of a child won me over. Arundhati Roy writes about an India I can relate to - the story is set in Kerala which is near where I grew up. Like the protagonists I grew up on pickle and the monotony of daily mass at church. I can still picture Rahel bored during the funeral, talking to the dead girl. In terms of Indian fiction, this is definitely my all-time favourite.

Interpreter of Maladies

Jhumpa Lahiri, 1999

Jhumpa Lahiri’s short stories are beautiful. The characters stay with you long after you leave their pages. It is difficult in short stories to build a rapport with the characters but Jhumpa achieves this effortlessly. Another favourite author whose fiction conjures up an India I can identify with.

The Inheritance of Loss

Kiran Desai, 2006

This was a gem of a book. I couldn’t put it down. The angst, the beauty of the writing makes this book by one of the best Indian authors out there and the third on my list.

The White Tiger

Aravind Adiga, 2008

I laughed out loud while reading this book. It is very dark, explores some serious issues but with a tongue in cheek humour that is hard to resist. Aravinda Adiga had a knack of tackling major issues with a panache that leaves you breathless and wanting to read more.

Bitter Sweets

Roopa Farooki, 2007

While browsing Bitter Sweets in the bookshop, I was drawn in by the first chapter and could not put the book down. I left the store with the book, reading it on the escalator and the bus home, and finished it in one sitting. It is an absolute joy to read.

2 States

The Story Of My Marriage

Chetan Bhagat, 2014

Chethan Bhagat’s 2 States had me in hysterics. This Indian author writes about serious issues with such humour and heart. Relatable, funny, so very good.

Malgudi Days

R. K. Narayan, 1982

I do not think there is any other Indian author who writes about childhood with as much insight as R.K.Narayan. I grew up reading R. K. Narayan. For me, he is the Indian author.

Six Suspects

Vikas Swarup, 2009

I read Six Suspects by Vikas Swarup, before Slumdog Millionaire, based on his book Q & A. I liked it very much. He deftly leads the reader inside the minds of his characters, exposing their flaws and their humanity so we care for them and they become our friends. A thought-provoking story by a brilliant author.

Life Isn't All Ha Ha Hee Hee

Meera Syal, 2001

I loved reading this book about the Asian community in Britain. A funny and poignant book, I would rate Meera Syal right up there among my favourite authors writing about topics relevant to modern day Indians who live in the UK.

Kim

Rudyard Kipling, 2021

Another author I grew up reading. Rudyard Kipling’s Jungle book, Kim and Just so stories were childhood fodder, and recently I re-read them and enjoyed them all the more.