Thread by @IndianInterest

I'm often asked to recommend books on Indian history, culture, etc. but am unable to respond to each request individually.

To address those numerous requests, here's a thread on India-specific book recommendations.

Philosophies of India by Heinrich Zimmer.

A book that was edited and published by Joseph Campbell after the author's death.

Excellent both as an in-depth resource book & as an overview to understanding Indian spirituality.

#BookRecommendation

amzn.to/2niZ6ne

Virtue, Success, Pleasure, and Liberation by Alain Daniélou

Reveals the foundations of India's culture and the four aims of human life as they are viewed in traditional Hindu society: Dharma, Artha, Kama, Moksha.

#BookRecommendation

amzn.to/2BzsbxN

The Wonder that was India by Arthur Llewellyn Basham

One of the all-time great books on Indian history. An excellent book, even though it's a little dated.

#BookRecommendation

amzn.to/2kdcJmE

The RigVedic People by Professor B. B. Lal

An outstanding book that debunks the Aryan Invasion/Migration theory and demonstrates the continuity of Indian civilization over several thousands of years.

#BookRecommendation

amzn.to/2kdcjg2

Himalayan Blunder: The Curtain-Raiser to the Sino-Indian War of 1962 by Brigadier J. P. Dalvi

The author's account of how three men - Jawaharlal Nehru, Krishna Menon, & General Brij Mohan Kaul - were responsible for India's defeat.

#BookRecommendation

amzn.to/2BCntiS

The South African Gandhi: Stretcher-Bearer of Empire by A. Desai & G. Vahed

Reveals in detail Mohandas Gandhi's racism towards Africans, his class and caste prejudices, and his admiration for & loyalty to the British Empire.

#BookRecommendation

amzn.to/2AfAVeh

We Are the Romani People by Ian Hancock

The history of the Indian-origin Romani (gypsy) people since leaving India one thousand years ago. The hardships & genocides they endured and survived, their language, culture and society.

#BookRecommendation

amzn.to/2AlGNRg

The Lost River by Michel Danino

A brilliant, scholarly book that makes a strong case for the historical existence of the Sarasvati river, and busts the myth of the Aryan Invasion theory.

#BookRecommendation

amzn.to/2j3FSx9

Land of the Seven Rivers: A Brief History of India's Geography by @sanjeevsanyal

Answers many questions from Indian History from the point of view of the subcontinent’s geography. Great account of the history of Indian civilization.

#BookRecommendation

amzn.to/2kdictK

The Ocean of Churn: How the Indian Ocean Shaped Human History by @sanjeevsanyal

A wonderfully narrated history of the Indian Ocean region. Reveals many facts that were forgotten, unheard, ignored or deliberately suppressed.

#BookRecommendation

amzn.to/2k9e0v0

The Principal Upanisads by President S. Radhakrishnan

A genuine treasure trove of wisdom: The central philosophical concepts & ideas of Hinduism, many of which are shared with Buddhism, Jainism, & Sikhism.

#BookRecommendation

amzn.to/2keI093

Sanskrit Swayam Shikshak by Shripad D. Satvlekar

A brilliant little book that will have you forming basic #Sanskrit sentences in 30 minutes. The best Sanskrit textbook I've encountered, by far.

Note: It's in Hindi.

#BookRecommendation

amzn.to/2kc5fR3

A History of India as it Happened. Not as it has been written. By @fgautier26

A great exposé. The author's passion for the subject and love for India shine through on every page.

#BookRecommendation

amzn.to/2kb5Wdb

Crimes Against India: And the Need to Protect Its Ancient Vedic Tradition: 1000 Years of Attacks Against Hinduism and What to Do about It by Stephen Knapp

The title says it all.

#BookRecommendation

amzn.to/2BA0Qvr

An Area of Darkness by V. S. Naipaul

Wherein Nobel laureate Naipaul describes his anger, frustration, depression & sense of alienation on witnessing the effects of Nehruvian socialism in the land of his ancestors.

#BookRecommendation

amzn.to/2kd8jfI

Another bunch of book recommendations coming up. The final set, for now.

The History And Culture Of The Indian People (11 volume series) by R. C. Majumdar

One of the most comprehensive and authoritative works on Indian history. A little dated (has Aryan invasion references), but brilliant nonetheless.

#BookRecommendation

amzn.to/2kh7thO

Heroic Hindu Resistance to Muslim Invaders (636 AD to 1206 AD) by Sita Ram Goel

A small book (58 pages). Indian history textbooks would have us believe that islamic invaders conquered India with ease. This book busts that lie.

#BookRecommendation

amzn.to/2Ao6Hns

Hindu Temples: What happened to them, Vol.1: A Preliminary Survey by Sita Ram Goel

Read this book to know about the thousands of Hindu temples that were systematically destroyed by islamic despots.

#BookRecommendation

amzn.to/2kh2f5W

Calcutta Quran Petition by Sita Ram Goel

An important book that explains the theory & practice of Islam. Debunks the myth that Islamic terror can somehow be separated from its teachings.

#BookRecommendation

amzn.to/2j7UJHb

The Battle for Sanskrit: Is Sanskrit Political or Sacred, Oppressive or Liberating, Dead or Alive? by @RajivMessage

How #Sanskrit is being systematically misinterpreted, distorted and its history supplanted by Western Indologists.

#BookRecommendation

amzn.to/2nkrKEt

Being Different : An Indian Challenge To Western Universalism by @RajivMessage

The author looks at the West from the Dharmic point of view; exposes the fundamental differences & debunks the "all religions/gods are the same" nonsense.

amzn.to/2BAqekG

Breaking India: Western Interventions in Dravidian and Dalit Faultlines by @RajivMessage & Arvindan Neelkandan

Exposes the Western forces that are trying to break india on the basis of religion, caste, language, etc. A must read.

#BookRecommendation

amzn.to/2BA38uB

Eminent Historians: Their Technology, Their Line, Their Fraud by Arun Shourie

A devastating exposé of how Leftist "historians" promote themselves, acquire control over institutions, & how they doctored Indian history textbooks.

#BookRecommendation

amzn.to/2AonJSh

The Only Fatherland: Communists, 'Quit India' and the Soviet Union by Arun Shourie

A brilliant book, wherein the author uncovers the malice, treachery, hypocrisy, and anti-nationalism of India's Communists.

#BookRecommendation

amzn.to/2j8IEl7

Self-Deception: India's China Policies. Origins, Premises, Lessons by Arun Shourie

Methodically lays bare how Nehru's policies led to disaster against China, and subsequent governments' policy paralysis.

#BookRecommendation

amzn.to/2AoPQ3G

Why India Is Not A Great Power (Yet) by Bharat Karnad

Read this book to understand geopolitics, what HARD power is, why India lacks it at present, and what India must do to address its deficiencies.

#BookRecommendation

amzn.to/2j8JMVT

India’s Most Fearless: True Stories of Modern Military Heroes by @ShivAroor

A thrilling book that takes you behind the scenes and into the thick of the action. Great stories from all 3 services of the military.

#BookRecommendation

amzn.to/2BCoYh7

Musings on Hinduism (Dharma) by @nkgrock

An essential book for understanding the core concepts of Hinduism. The author does a great job of making a vast, rich, and complex subject accecssible to the lay reader. A must read.

#BookRecommendation

amzn.to/2khnXGJ

Arthashastra by Kautilya (AKA Vishnu Gupta, Chanakya)

A masterpiece on statecraft, governance, economics, and the science of everyday living. Written by a man who helped shape the course of Indian civilization.

An essential read.

#BookRecommendation

amzn.to/2BDW53O

And that's it for now. Hope this helps. 🙏

Please note that some of these books are copyright-expired, and hence available online for free.