Best Books to know about India - Indian books Great Choice

1) Old Man and His God The Old Man And His God is a collection of short stories by Sudha Murthy based on her own experiences as she encounters many different kinds of people in the course of her work. Summary Of The Book In the introduction to The Old Man And His God, the author says that she is often asked how such interesting incidents happen to her. Her answer is that these are ordinary incidents and encounters that occur in the life of everyone. It is just that many people do not observe and record them. The book contains stories that hold up a mirror to every characteristic of humanity, generosity, selfishness, greed, contentment, and ambition. These are tales of people’s behavior and reactions in ordinary circumstances and during crisis. She tells the story of a banyan tree in a remote village in Karnataka that gives shelter to travelers under its shade, and of the man who sits on a stone under the tree and lets passersby share the seat and their troubles with him, acting as a counselor to them, letting them unburden their worries on him for a while. There are stories of women trying to make a difference in the community against odds, of acts of selfishness and generosity in times of disaster, of young professionals and the attitudes that make some of them succeed in the corporate race. There is also the title story of an old couple in a small temple, who give the author shelter during a storm. They then refuse an offer of help from her, saying that they are happy with what they have, offering a lesson in contentment. As the author herself points out, the stories in The Old Man And His God are ordinary events that might happen to anyone. In her case, she is sensitive enough that they leave a lasting impression upon her and she learns from each of them. She also happens to be a good writer who shares these experiences with her readers. About Sudha Murthy Sudha Murthy is the chairman of Infosys Foundation. She has written numerous other books like Gently Falls The Bakula, Dollar Bahu, Wise and Otherwise, and How I Taught My Grandmother To Read And Other Stories. Sudha Murthy, who holds a Master’s Degree in Computer Science from IISc, was the first female engineer to be hired by TELCO. She is active in many social causes. She has received the R. K. Narayan's Award for Literature and the Padma Shri. She is married to Narayana Murthy, the co-founder of Infosys.

2)Scientific Indian; The (English, Paperback, Kalam, A. P. J. Abdul, Rajan, Y. S.) The Scientific Indian: The Twenty-First Century Guide To The World Around Us covers the issues of importance in the various fields of science and technology in the new millennium. Summary Of The Book The authors’ previous book, India 2020: A Vision For The New Millennium inspired thousands of young minds to dream of a new, powerful India, propelled by scientific and technological advances, emerging to take its place as a world leader in the near future. To truly emerge as a powerful nation, the authors point out, the country has to focus on in its primary technological needs. In this book, The Scientific Indian: The Twenty-First Century Guide To The World Around Us, Kalam, along with co-author Y. S. Rajan, talks about the country’s achievements in various fields, the path that it has to take to achieve further greatness, and the issues that need immediate focus. The authors concentrate on the important fields of scientific knowledge that are most relevant to the current times. They talk of recent advancements in the fields of satellite technology, space exploration, missile development, food production, energy resources, communications, water harvesting, earth and ocean resources, and health care. The Scientific Indian: The Twenty-First Century Guide To The World Around Us discusses the recent global advancements in these and other crucial areas, and also discusses many important Indian contributions in these fields. The book explains why it is imperative to focus on these fields in the near future to ensure sustained progress. The Scientific Indian: The Twenty-First Century Guide To The World Around Us charts the path for progress, shows the areas that need focus, and explains the trends for the future. About The Authors A. P. J. Abdul Kalam is an Indian scientist and a former President of India. Other books by Kalam are You Are Born To Blossom: Take My Journey Beyond, Developments In Fluid Mechanics And Space Technology, Wings of Fire: An Autobiography, Ignited Minds: Unleashing the Power Within India, and Mission India. Dr. A. P.J. Abdul Kalam was born in Rameshwaram. He has a degree in Physics from Trichy’s Saint Joseph’s College, and a degree in Aerospace Engineering from Madras Institute of Technology. He became the country’s 11th President in 2002. Kalam has won numerous awards and honors including the Veer Savarkar Award, the Ramanujan Award, the Hoover medal, and the Bharat Ratna. Yagnaswami Sundara Rajan is a physicist and a leadership and management expert. Other books by Y. S. Rajan are Empowering Indians: With Economic, Business and Technology Strengths For The Twenty First Century, A to Z of Success: A Companion For Youth, Global Business Technology and Knowledge Sharing: Lessons for Developing Country Enterprises, and Choosing Career Paths. He writes on technology, youth issues and business management. Y. S. Rajan was born in 1943. He has been an important figure in India’s recent achievements in space programs. As a scientist and administrator, he has held various key posts in science and technology fields. He has served as the vice chancellor at Punjab Technology University and as a scientific secretary at ISRO.

3)Target 3 Billion (English, Paperback, Srijan Pal Singh, A. P. J. Abdul Kalam) Target 3 Billion: Innovative Solutions Towards Sustainable Development explores the authors’ vision for the rural regions of the country, and the strategies by which the poorer regions can be integrated into the mainstream in terms of social, economical, and technological progress. Summary Of The Book Target 3 Billion: Innovative Solutions Towards Sustainable Development talks about the many difficulties that rural societies face. These places are often ignored in terms of infrastructure like roads, transportation, and electricity. The authors then talk about how a group of passionate people, or even an individual, can bring change in a short period of time. They discuss how Fabio Luiz de Oliveira Rosa managed to transform a rural region in Brazil by giving the people access to good water supply and electricity. The authors also describe how a community owned region of 400 acres, the Magarpatta village, was transformed into a modern township with an IT Park. They also introduce the Bhadariya village, which was a wasteland in the middle of the Thar Desert. Bhadariya posed additional challenges, as most of the villagers were addicted to alcohol, tobacco, and other substances. The head of the Bhadariya Ashram, Baba Bhadariya Maharaj, initiated a cooperative program that first began as a campaign for de-addiction of the local people. Once the people were back to their senses, they improved their environment by digging tube wells, planting trees, and practicing methods for water conservation and irrigation. Soon the place was transformed, and became rich with cultivable lands and herds of cattle. Target 3 Billion: Innovative Solutions Towards Sustainable Development also concentrates on PURA (Providing Urban amenities in Rural Areas), a programme initiated by Kalam when he was the President of India. The book discusses how this model could significantly help improve the infrastructure of villages, and provide them with fundamental necessities like water and electricity, as well as other requirements such as roads and transportation. The role of technology in development is also explored, as they talk about how Information Technology could be used to provide access to better education and other knowledge in remote areas. This book makes it apparent that the integration of rural economies is essential for achieving sustainable development of the country as a whole. About The Authors A.P.J. Abdul Kalam is a renowned scientist and a former President of India. He is also the author of other books like Wings Of Fire: An Autobiography, India 2020: A Vision For The New Millennium, Ignited Minds: Unleashing The Power Within India, and The Luminous Sparks. Dr. Kalam was involved in the development of India’s first satellite launch vehicle, the SLV-III. He was also involved in the operational and administrative aspects of the Pokhran mission, the nuclear test conducted in 1998. Dr. Kalam became President of India in 2002. He initiated many constructive programmes to fulfil his vision for the country as an economic and technological leader by 2020. Srijan Pal Singh is a management graduate and a social activist. Srijan Pal Singh did his undergraduate education in Electrical Engineering, after which he earned an MBA from IIM, Ahmedabad. He has been involved in many programmes to implement social and economic development schemes in rural areas. He is also actively involved in promoting the PURA initiative as a model for sustainable development in rural areas.

4)India Since Independence (English, Paperback, Bipan Chandra) An insightful narration on how the world’s largest democracy, India, was forged, India Since Independence is the sequel to India's Struggle for Independence and was first published in 2008. Summary Of The Book India Since Independence gives a succinct analysis of the various obstacles and challenges India had to face and overcome in her past, and her proudest and most successful moments in the century until independence. The book narrates how the Constitution was drafted, and the development of economic and political agenda heavily influenced by Nehru. It also provides an insight into the fundamentals of foreign policies and an in-depth analysis of the different reforms in the Indian economy since 1991. The author scrutinizes various aspects like the problems in Punjab, the predominant practices of untouchability, and party politics in the Centre and states. In addition to providing information on the decline of the National Democratic Alliance in 2004, and the resultant rise of United Progressive Alliance's power, it also discusses the deal that unravelled political consensuses, the Indo-US Nuclear Deal. The book includes chapters like The Initial Years, The Colonial Legacy, Foreign Policy: The Nehru Era, The Rajiv Years, Agriculture Growth and the Green Revolution. The book has 41 chapters in total. This edition provides an updated and revised overview of the Indian economy, and with a consolidation of objective assessments by public figures like Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Indira Gandhi and Manmohan Singh, this new edition includes an overview of the Indian economy in the new millennium. About The Authors Dr. Bipan Chandra is a renowned Indian historian and author. He has authored Communalism: A Primer, Ideology and Politics in Modern India, Communalism in Modern India, Freedom Struggle, and Indian National Movement: The Long Term Dynamics. Born in Kangra Valley, Chandra completed his education from Stanford University in California and the University of Delhi. He dedicated several years of his life to teaching and was appointed Sectional President of the Indian History Congress. Chandra is considered to be one of the foremost scholars on Mahatma Gandhi, he is also adept in the economic and political history of modern India. Mridula Mukherjee is an Indian author and Professor. She has authored Peasants in India's Non-Violent Revolution and Colonializing Agriculture. Mukherjee is currently the Professor of Modern Indian History at the Centre for Historical Studies, and is also the Director of Nehru Memorial Museum and Library. Her areas of interest are in peasant movements, agrarian history, and the national movement. Aditya Mukherjee is an author and Professor at St. Stephen’s college in Delhi. He also serves as the Director of the Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Advanced Study at JNU, and his interests lie in capitalist development and modern business history.

5)Book of Woman (English, Paperback, Osho) Women are considered as complex beings who are difficult to understand and decode. The Book of Woman is a guide which helps women discover their inner being and not submit to repression. Summary of the Book The Book Of Woman is a book which will help women understand what they actually want from their lives. As women, we play multiple roles and submit to oppression or repression, thus sacrificing our own desires and dreams. Osho in this book says that a woman should rejoice her feminine qualities and form synthesis between the mind and the heart. About Osho Osho was an Indian author, mystic guru and spiritual teacher. He was famous for his open-minded lectures which were often considered as controversial and provocative. Osho authored books like The World Beyond Time, From Sex To Superconsciousness and Secrets of Yoga.