1) R.K Narayan’s Swami and Friends
A story in episodes that revolves around the protagonist Swami and his friends residing in a fictional town called Malgudi. Narayan focuses on the regular gestures of human relationships rather than constructing a complex narrative.
2) Khushwant Singh’s Train to Pakistan
It depicts all the harsh realities of Partition phase. Not only does it cover the bloodshed but also astonishes the readers with the lovely effort of Jagga in letting the train to Pakistan, go safely.
3) Anita Desai’s In Custody
Its story travels through the dark alleys of Chandni Chowk and depicts how Urdu has been confined to these mysterious lanes only. It shows how Deven’s taking custody of Nur’s Urdu poetry can never let it fall.
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4) Shashi Tharoor’s The Great Indian Novel
It is a political satire oscillating between independence and post independence ideologies. It takes Mahabharata as its base and comments on the politically convoluted state of India.
5) Vikram Seth’s A Suitable Boy
Vikram Seth steals the show by creating a story that shows typical Indian marriage scenarios. It highlights the efforts of people moving towards something called modernity.
6) Arundhati Roy’s The God of Small Things
She presents it in a way as if Kerala itself is speaking all about its diverse colours. A simple story with multi-dimensional plots and multiple characters which also incorporates issue like Caste-ism.
7) Aravind Adiga’s The White Tiger
It covers the perspective of a village boy, Balram and shows the struggles that people residing in remote areas have to suffer in the world of Globalization and Materialism.
8) Kiran Desai’s The Inheritence of Loss
A lovely piece that brings out the thought of westernization that hasn’t yet been able to go off from our country.
9) Salman Rushdie’s Midnight’s Children
He employs magical realism in this novel and gets deep into probing all political and cultural facets of Independence time and after.
10) Ruskin Bond’s The Blue Umbrella
It notes all the fuss about an umbrella that Bindiya receives. It also reveals the simplicity of a village life and love among the people.
