5 Books About India That Are A Must-Read This Independence Day

Every Independence Day, we’re reminded of the sacrifices of our freedom fighters and the number of atrocities the people of India suffered at the hands of the British Raj for centuries. For some, these memories are still fresh in their minds — passed on to the next generation with the same heartbreak and pride.

India got its Independence on 15th August 1947, nearly a century after the first war of Independence in 1857. And all these years later, we continue to hear stories of the brave, the fallen, the struggles and the victories. However, there are still so many stories we haven’t heard of and so many events worth noting. India’s Independence isn’t just about one day — it’s all the days before and all the days after that encapsulates this moment.

Here are 5 books about India and its Independence that will leave you with very many thoughts:

1. Prison Days by Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit

This book is an account of Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit’s third and final time in Naini Central Jail in Allahabad, where she was joined by her then 25-year-old niece, Indira Gandhi. Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit joined the freedom struggle along with her father, Motilal Nehru, brother Jawaharlal and husband, Ranjit Sitaram Pandit, and was arrested during the course of the movement. Prison Days talks about the everyday details of her life in jail that filled her diary between 1942 and 1947. It talks about her passion to overthrow the British Rule, Mahatma Gandhi’s non-violent call for a freedom struggle, and finally, India’s Independence. This book is thought-provoking and heartbreaking.

2. Kanthapura by Raja Rao

Written by Padma Vibhushan awardee, Raja Rao, Kanthapura is considered as the first major Indian novel in English. It’s the story of how the Independence struggle reaches a village in south India that’s riddled with casteism. The protagonist, Moorthy, comes back from the city and tries to unite the villagers to join the movement. This novel is a perfect coming together of religion, mythology and history.

3. A Legacy By The Indus: Memories Of Migrants From Dera Ismail Khan by Aruna Kohli

Aruna Kohli’s parents were natives of Dera Ismail Khan, a city by the Indus River. The book is about the life and culture of Hindu migrants from this city who fled in 1947 during the partition of India. They carried with them rich traditions and customs which have now been forgotten, along with their ancient language, Derewali. This book talks about an era long gone and throws light on the Derewal refugees.

4. Quit India! And Other Stories by Ismat Chughtai

Ismat Chughtai was known for her revolutionary feminist ideologies and her contribution to Urdu literature. Quit India! is a collection of ger stories written between 1938 and 1963 that talk about the shared histories and experiences of Hindus and Muslims in India. It throws light on the community dynamics and reflects her insights on love and life. Chughtai is an inspiration and a force to be reckoned with, and so is her collection of stories.

5. India Wins Freedom by Maulana Azad

Independent India’s first Minister of Education, the youngest president of the Indian National Congress, political leader and scholar — Maulana Azad is all of this and more. In India Wins Freedom, he talks about the events leading up to the partition, along with his personal experiences and the happenings of the Indian Independence movement. The book was initially sealed due to its unconventional take on the Indian freedom movement, and sold over 30 million copies once it was released to the public.