53 Best Books on Indian History (The Complete Guide)

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India can boast of being one of the oldest civilizations in the world. India’s written history dates back to the Vedas. therefore, writing a book on Indian history that can cover the subject in its entirety can be an impossible task.

The history of India has seen the influence of many kings. it was also shaped by many queens, countless empires, religions, and finally, its people.

You are reading: Best books on indian history

Unsurprisingly, thousands of books, scholarly and otherwise, are written on the history of India. As a result, finding books about this ancient civilization and its history can be a difficult task.

so, to help and guide our readers, we have compiled this list of books on Indian history. the list contains 53 books.

We have divided the list into the 5 great eras of our history. they are:

prehistoric,
ancient history,
medieval history,
modern history, and
post-independence history.

each era is again divided into 2 parts:

must read Indian history books and
books on specific topics.

The list of 10 must-read books is at the top. is followed by a list of epochs from the topic-specific book.

must reads provide an overview of that particular era. topic-specific books deal with individual topics: kings, cultures, dynasties, tax systems, etc.

Go ahead and enjoy this detailed list of Indian history books. We hope you like it and find it useful.

the most important books in Indian history – 10 books

1. prehistory and protohistory of india: an evaluation of vk jain

This book talks about many very varied topics. some of them are: tools, technologies, settlements, patterns of existence and ecological background.

The megalithic cultures of peninsular India are also analyzed in detail. maps, line drawings, and descriptive notes of individual sites are also included.

2. ancient india by rc majumdar

This book is a comprehensive and interesting account of ancient Indian history.

The author explains in great detail the religious, literary and cultural aspects of ancient India and its people. political and administrative conditions are also discussed.

3. ancient history of india by charles j. naegele

This book offers a fresh look at the history of ancient India. focuses on manusmriti and its relation to the rigveda.

explores its possible relationship with the Indus civilization 4,000 or 5,000 years ago.

It also sheds light on Aryan society, culture, castes, and the use of technology in the Indus Valley Civilization.

4. a concise history of south india: problems and interpretations by noboru karashima

This book covers a wide range of topics. they include the origins and creation of ancient kingdoms. It also includes the development of agriculture in ancient India.

This book also provides an overview of the socio-cultural development of South India. it is done through an exhaustive examination of its historical trajectory.

5. history of medieval India: from 1000 a. d. to 1707 BC d. by rs chaurasia

This book deals in detail with all aspects of medieval Indian history to meet the requirements of students and ordinary readers. The book is divided into three parts.

The first part covers the Saltanat period from 1206 to 1526.

The second part deals with the Mughal period from 1526 to 1760 AD. in detail.

part three covers the period up to 1857 in brief.

bhakti movement, society and culture, art and architecture, and economic aspects are described in a very simple and lucid style.

6. a textbook of medieval indian history by sailendra nath sen

This book provides a picture of the political history of medieval India. It covers the period from the 8th to the 18th century.

examines the socioeconomic changes, managerial innovations, and cultural revolutions of this period. the author makes special reference to literature, religion, art and architecture.

provides a valuable introduction to many important topics. It explains the invasion of the Turks, the establishment of the Delhi Sultanate and the rise of the Vijayanagar kingdom.

The rule of the Mughals, the rise of Maratha power, and the advent of the Europeans are also explained.

7. a history of medieval india by satish chandra

This book provides a comprehensive overview of the history of medieval India.

covers the thousand-year period between the 8th and 18th centuries.

deals with the stories of many known and lesser known kingdoms. Kingdoms included are Cholas, Rajputs, Turks, Vijayanagara, Bahmanis, Mughals, Marathas, etc.

8. history of modern india by bipan chandra

This is a book on the history of British rule in India. coincides with modern Indian history. it is not a political narrative of British rule, the struggle for freedom and independence.

Rather, this book is an explanation of the factors that allowed the British to rule India for so long. deals with the economic, religious and social history of modern India.

9. from plassey to partition: a history of modern india by sekhar bandyopadhyay

This book on modern Indian history begins with the disintegration and fall of the Mughal Empire.

It also chronicles the parallel rise of the British Empire on the Indian subcontinent.

The book is unique in presenting the problems of Indians under British rule. Gives a detailed account of India’s struggle for freedom. it also describes the cultural and social changes introduced by foreign rulers.

presents the whole story of the rise of various Indian freedom fighters. it also talks about the partition that led to the creation of india and pakistan.

10. india after gandhi: the story of the world’s greatest democracy by ramachandra guha

ramchandra guha’s india after gandhi offers a detailed history of independent india.

The book tells the story of several Indian Prime Ministers. particularly discusses the lives of jawaharlal nehru and indira gandhi.

also talks about many lesser known Indians.

Indian history books by subject43 historical books

indian history books – prehistoric era

This book delves into the realm of the myth that all megaliths are burials and finds out that it isn’t true. It reveals the knowledge of astronomy and mathematics prevalent in prehistoric India. It talks of a few megaliths across the country such as Chano, Punkri Burwadih and Nilurallu. Prehistoric Rock Art of India by Erwin Neumayer In this book, Erwin Neumayer presents a well-rounded overview of rock art in India. It includes rock arts of the late Stone Age. The book covers a vast terrain – from the Himalayas to central India. It then proceeds to southern Deccan and Sri Lanka. It also provides an accurate idea of crucial figures and details of implements used. Prehistoric India: Its Place In The World’s Cultures by Panchanan Mitra This book deals with the 5000-year old history of India. It explains how race and culture developed in Pre-historic times. It encompasses the growth of one of the greatest civilizations in the world. Panchanan Mitra was a lecturer at Calcutta University. He was also a curator in Indian Museum and a fellow of The Royal Anthropological Institute.

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books on ancient Indian history

In this groundbreaking book, three renowned scholars show that there was no “Aryan invasion”. They prove that India, not Sumer, was the cradle of human civilisation. This book also examines the wealth of India’s spirituality and its relevance to today’s world. It does so by exploring the rich symbols, metaphors, and myths of the Vedas. It covers topics like archaeology, astronomy, Yoga and geology. The Lost River: On The Trail of the Sarasvati by Michel Danino The Lost River is a book that talks about the existence, and eventual demise, of the Sarasvati River. The book puts forth the theories brought about by different explorers and archaeologists. This book is a narrative that insists on the idea that the river still exists, and speaks in favour of it. It combines spiritual evidence with archaeological evidence to prove its point. The book is a must-read for students, teachers and researchers. Ancient Cities of the Indus Valley Civilization by Jonathan Mark Kenoyer This illustrated book presents a simple account of the Indus Valley civilization that will appeal to everyone. The book draws on the latest archaeological information from the major Indus Valley sites. The author addresses many important topics related to the Indus valley civilisation. Topics include – Indus writing system, the Indus religion, sculpture and architecture. Other important subjects discussed in the book are the administrative systems in Indus cities. Their trade systems are given due importance. The daily life of the diverse inhabitants of the cities, towns, and villages of the region are also discussed. The Wonder that was India by A.L. Basham The book explores the rich cultural heritage of ancient India. It traces various time periods of Indian history beginning with Indus valley civilisation. This book is narrative, simple to understand and keeps the reader engaged. Furthermore, the book even talks about the evolution of the Hindu religion that has been followed from Harappan times. Lifestyle of the Vedic People by Pranati Ghosal The book deals with aspects of everyday life of the Vedic people – seers, elite and that of the common people. The book explains their housing, occupations, education, food and drink, entertainment, dress and cosmetics. It uses Vedic literature for its analysis. Discovering the Vedas by Frits Staal In this book, the author analyses information from oral tradition and archaeology. He uses this to explain the Vedic people and their language, what they thought and did, and where they went and when. He sheds light on the mantras and rituals that contributed to Hindu thought. He reveals the original forms of the Vedic sciences, as well as its wisdom for the modern reader. Age of the Nandas and Mauryas by K.A. Nilakantha Sastri The present work deals with the period 400-185 B.C. which saw great changes in the political, economic and artistic life of India. The author provides a clear understanding of the important events of the period. Topics include Alexander’s conquests, Mauryan rule, the overthrow of the Nandas and of the rule of Asoka and his successors. Other topics which the author discusses are – Mauryan Polity, Industry, Art, Religion, Language and Literature. Chandragupta Maurya and His Times by Radhakumud Mookherji This book deals with the life and times of India’s first historical emperor, Chandragupta Maurya. It provides a picture of Indian civilisation in the early period of the fourth century BC. The book draws material from various sources – classical works in Sanskrit, Buddhist and Jaina texts and the inscriptions of Asoka. It covers almost all aspects of administration including the king, ministers and officers. Other topics are – the justice system and the army and its management. A Concise History of Buddhism by Andrew Skilton This book is an ideal introduction to the history of Buddhism. It explains the development of the basic concepts of Buddhism. It explores its 2,500 years of history and describes its varied developments in India. It also describes its spread across Asia, from Mongolia to Sri Lanka and from Japan to the Middle East. Jainism – History, Society, Philosophy and Practice by Agustin Paniker This book traces the dynamics and development of Jainism. It explains Jainism’s main features: its mythology, origins and its great figures. It also explains its main subdivisions and religious groups, its scriptures, practices. Other topics include – its rituals and its social, cultural and political interactions. Post-Mauryan India 200BC – AD300: A Political and Economic History by Irfan Habib This book deals with a five-hundred-year period of Indian history. This period is associated with the dominance of Indo-greeks, Sakas, Kushans and Satavahanas. A History of South India by K.A. Nilakantha Sastri This book offers a comprehensive account of the much-neglected history of South India. South India is treated as a single geographical entity in this book. It details the political history, social life, commerce, religion, literature and arts of South India. The Ocean of Churn: How the Indian Ocean Shaped Human History by Sanjeev Sanyal This book narrates the history of the rim of the Indian Ocean. It stretches across East Africa, the Middle East and the Indian subcontinent to South East Asia and Australia. Sanjeev Sanyal explores archaeological sites, ancient inscriptions, and oral histories in this book. Many lesser-known historical figures have been brought to life in this book.

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books on medieval Indian history

The book provides a study of the struggle of Prithviraj Chauhan against the Turks. It also highlights the cultural activities of the period. The heroic resistance offered by the Chauhan rulers and other Rajputs is also touched upon by the author. Other topics covered in detail include the early history of Chauhans. The administrative and architectural activities of the period are also explained. The author details the histories of several contemporary families. It also includes the original texts of several inscriptions and literary sources. Annals & Antiquities of Rajasthan by James Tod This book is an account of the lifestyle of Rajputs. It talks about their religious and social practices, their festivals, their legal and political institutions. It provides the reader with a real picture of the different aspects of Rajput life. It narrates their loyalty, devotion, valour and bravery. Other topics which the author discusses are the instability of their character, their fears, and their addictions. The Royal Rajputs: Strange Tales and Stranger Truths by Manoshi Bhattacharya The Royal Rajputs is a history book which is full of timeless tales waiting to be told. It explores the scandals and intrigues, the power and ambition, the battles and the forts and the customs and traditions of the Rajputs. It will appeal to all those who revel in a story well told. Maharana Pratap: The Greatest Rajput Warrior by Rima Hooja This book is a well-researched yet simple biography of Maharana Pratap. The author uses historical sources and contemporary court chronicles in this book. He also uses Mewari ballads, folklore and legends to explore the history of Maharana Pratap. South India Under the Cholas by Y. Subbarayalu This book narrates the history of medieval south India under the rule of the Cholas. It is a detailed and scholarly study of Chola state, society and economy. It discusses the revenue system, property rights and relations between landowners, cultivators, and slaves. It also talks about the structure and character of the Chola state. Vijayanagara: The Never to Be Forgotten Empire by SR Ramanujan This book analyses the different theories about the Vijayanagara Empire. It then tries to give a viewpoint on these theories. The main aim of this book is to summarise the important aspects of the kingdom’s history. It provides information on the foundation of the empire, its founders, foreign travellers, important rulers and its fall. A History of Assam by Edward Albert Gait The book gives a detailed account of the history of Assam. It talks about its various tribes, their language, religion and social customs. The book also contains descriptions of Mughal invasions and how the inhabitants defeated them. The book draws from various ancient Hindu writings and Muhammadan sources. The Age of Wrath: A History of the Delhi Sultanate by Abraham Eraly The Delhi Sultanate period (1206-1526) was as an age of chaos and violence. It was full of plundering kings, fierce dynasties and aggressive religious impositions. In this book, the author brings this fascinating period alive. He talks about the many kings who ruled during this period. He discusses the political, social and cultural developments of the period that transformed India. The Empire of the Great Mughals by Annemarie Schimmel This book provides a comprehensive history of the Mughal period. The author describes the political, military and economic rise of the Mughals. He discusses their system of rule, the incredible unfolding of their power and glory, and their gradual collapse. The book begins with a simple historical overview. It then paints a detailed picture of life at the Mughal court. It talks of rank and status in this hierarchical society. It describes the various religions, languages and works of literature. It also talks of the patronage of the arts by the rulers and the important accomplishments of artists of the time. Private Life of the Mughals of India by R. Nath This history book explains the lavish and scandalous private lives of the Mughals. It covers various aspects of their lifestyles. It describes their food and drinks; clothes and ornaments; addictions and intoxicants. It also details their pleasures and pastimes, rituals, and marriage and harem life. The Marathas 1600-1818 by Stewart Gordon This book presents a detailed history of the Maratha Empire. It is one of the most colourful and least-understood kingdoms of India. The book draws on administrative documents, family papers and other historical records. It provides a history of the origin of the Marathas. It details their emergence as elite families and their strategies for maintaining legitimacy. The book also analyses the lasting effects of the Marathas on the culture of Gujarat and Maharashtra. A History of the Sikhs, Volume 1 – 1469-1839 by Khushwant Singh Khushwant Singh has written this book for a general and non-academic audience. It covers the social, religious and political background which led to the formation of the Sikh faith in the fifteenth century. It traces the growth of Sikhism. It also talks of the compilation of the Granth Sahib. The book draws from original documents in Persian, Gurmukhi and English. The transformation of the Sikhs from a pacifist sect to a militant group is also portrayed in detail. The book also touches upon the relationship of the Sikhs with the Mughals and the Afghans. It also narrates the history of Maharaja Ranjit Singh under whom the Sikh power consolidated.

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books on modern Indian history

In this book, Shashi Tharoor reveals the damage that British rule cased to India. He writes in a simple and witty manner but backs it up with impeccable research. He demolishes the many arguments on the supposed benefits of British rule to India like democracy, rule of law, and railways. The Last Mughal by William Dalrymple The Last Mughal is a revealing historical book. It narrates the history of Bahadur Shah Zafar, the last Mughal emperor. It also provides an Indian perspective on the fall of Delhi during the Sepoy mutiny. It also provides the stories of many individuals of the time who met tragic ends. William Dalrymple draws his research from unexamined Urdu and Persian manuscripts. These include eyewitness accounts, records of the Delhi court, police and administration during the siege. Tatya Tope’s Operation Red Lotus by Parag Tope Tatya Tope’s Operation Red Lotus is a quest to understand the real history of the Anglo-Indian war of 1857. The contemporary members of the Tope family have written this book. It covers the detailed planning of the war and the problems which the revolutionaries faced. It also narrates how these problems were overcome to allow the Indian troops to unify during the war. This is the first detailed account of Tatya Tope that covers his entire campaign from the planning of the war until his death. India’s Struggle for Independence by Bipan Chandra This book provides a detailed history of the Indian independence movement. It includes details of the freedom struggle from the entire country and not any particular region. The book begins with the first war of independence. It depicts the history of Mangal Pandey’s mutiny and the gallant efforts of Rani Laxmi Bai. The book also explains in detail Mahatma Gandhi’s non-cooperation and the civil disobedience movements. It contains a detailed description of Subash Chandra Bose’s role in the freedom struggle. The Great Partition by Yasmin Khan In this book, Yasmin Khan provides a historical account of the Partition of India. He examines the context and decisions which led to partition. He also analyses the execution and aftermath of Partition. The book highlights the tragic human cost and shows why the effects of Partition resound even now. It focuses on the haste and recklessness with which it was completed and the damaging legacy which it left behind.

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books on Indian history – post-independence

This book is a narrative on the mystery surrounding Lal Bahadur Shastri’s death. Anuj Dhar provides a disturbing alternative view which goes against the official version. The book takes the readers through many discussions and observations. It finally provides revelations about this unsolved mystery. Himalayan Blunder: The Curtain-Raiser to the Sino-Indian War of 1962 by JP Dalvi This book provides the history of the 1962 Indo-China war. Brigadier J. P. Dalvi, who fought in the war, is the author of this book. Dalvi narrates the indifference and incompetence of those at the helm of India’s political affairs. He explains how it led to the sacrifice of hundreds of valuable lives. The detailed narratives of the massacre of the Indian soldiers are heart-rending. Among all the books based on the subject, this book is one of the most striking and authentic ones. India’s Wars: A Military History, 1947-1971 by Arjun Subramaniam India’s Wars is a historical account of the many wars fought by India since 1947. The book begins with a brief account of the growth of India’s armed forces. It then provides a detailed history of the principal conflicts from Independence to 1971. These include the first India-Pakistan war of 1947-48, the liberation of Hyderabad and Junagadh and the Goan campaign of 1961. It also details the full-blown conventional wars against China and Pakistan. The Naxalite Movement in India by Prakash Singh This book provides a detailed history of the Naxalite movement in India. It covers all the important developments in the Naxalite movement from its start in 1967 to the present day. The Emergency: A Personal History by Coomi Kapoor This book is an eyewitness account of the dark days of the Emergency period (1975-77). The author, Coomi Kapoor, was a young journalist at the time. She experienced the full fury of the establishment and this book is her account. During this period, Indira Gandhi and her son Sanjay Gandhi unleashed a reign of terror. Forced sterilizations, brutal evictions and unjustified imprisonments were daily norms. This book recreates the drama, the horror, as well as the heroism of a few during those troubled times. Emergency Retold by Kuldip Nayar In Emergency Retold, Kuldip Nayar narrates the history of Indira Gandhi’s Emergency. He breaks down the Prime Minister’s move and re-sparks a debate on the subject. The book introduces the reader with the facts, lies and truths in an easy-to-understand style. It reveals the atrocities committed and the chief perpetrators. A revelatory must-read on the dark months of India’s history. The Dravidian Years: Politics and Welfare in Tamil Nadu by S. Narayan This book is a historical account of the 50 years of Dravidian rule in Tamil Nadu. It provides an insider’s view of this period. It includes case studies of the successful policies and programmes under the regimes of Dravidian leaders like MGR, M. Karunanidhi, and Jayalalitha. Our Moon Has Blood Clots: The Exodus of the Kashmiri Pandits by Rahul Pandita Our Moon Has Blood Clots is the story of Kashmir. The book narrates the history of Kashmiri Pandits who were tortured, killed and forced to leave their homes by Islamist militants. It also details how the Pandits had to spend the rest of their lives in exile in their own country. Half – Lion: How P.V Narasimha Rao Transformed India by Vinay Sitapati This book is a definitive biography of P.V. Narasimha Rao. It also provides an insight into the history of India when it was on the brink of financial collapse. The book draws on Rao’s never-before-seen personal papers. It also includes over a hundred interviews. It provides new revelations on the Indian economy, nuclear programme, foreign policy and Babri Masjid. This book is meticulously researched and honestly told. It is a must-read for anyone interested in the man responsible for transforming India. The Saffron Tide – The Rise of the BJP by Kingshuk Nag In this book, Kingshuk Nag traces the history of BJP and its rise. It is a book that will interest all the readers of modern Indian history and political history. It is a comprehensive, unbiased and timely biography of the Bharatiya Janata Party.