We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed and its publishing partners may collect a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page.

    16 Bestselling Books By Indian Authors

    Featuring some of our most celebrated writers like Vikram Seth, Jhumpa Lahiri, and more.

    Mugdha Kusray
    by Mugdha Kusray

    BuzzFeed Staff

    1. The Courtesan, the Mahatma and the Italian Brahmin by Manu S. Pillai - ₹376

    amazon.in

    A collection of awe-inspiring short stories from the depths of Indian history, mainly digging out anecdotes and tales of Indian women who have been obscured, hidden or simply forgotten. A brilliant read.

    2. The Blue Umbrella by Ruskin Bond - ₹94

    amazon.in

    Revel in the quaintness of the Indian countryside with this humourous little novel, which traces a beautiful blue umbrella - the envy of the village.

    3. Sister of my Heart by Chitra Banerjee Divakurni - ₹413

    amazon.in

    A moving tale of two sisters, Anju and Sudha, who are bonded in the most incomprehensible of ways. Heart-rending and bittersweet.

    4. An Era of Darkness: The British Empire in India by Shashi Tharoor - ₹450

    amazon.in

    A must-read for all history buffs, this book discusses the reasons why the British Empire was not as rosy and beneficial for India and its people, as claimed by British-Raj apologists.

    5. The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri - ₹330

    amazon.in

    Sit back and enjoy the whirlwind journey of identity, family, love, and loss that this stellar novel has to offer. Lahiri is a stunning writer.

    6. Shikandi And Other Queer Tales They Don't Tell You by Devdutt Pattanaik - ₹245

    amazon.in

    Queerness isn't a modern concept, read this eye-opener to learn about it and the various queer figures found in Hindu mythology - Shikhandi, Mahadeva, Chudala, Samavan, and many more.

    7. Jaya, a deceptively simple retelling of the Mahabharata, by Devdutt Pattanaik - ₹275

    amazon.in

    Get it here!

    8. The Palace of Illusions by Chitra Banerjee Divakurni - ₹280

    amazon.in

    If you're a Mahabharata fan, you must read this rendition told from Draupadi's perspective. Read it to know her side of the story.

    9. Midnight's Children by Salman Rushdie - ₹276

    amazon.in

    Rushdie is a masterful weaver of stories, and Midnight's Children is the perfect example of this. Salim, born with the nation on August 15, 1947, has telepathic powers and can converse with other children who have the same abilities; he experiences the same highs and lows as India does. An enchanting adventure with shockingly realistic episodes.

    10. Anita Desai's Clear Light of Day - ₹221

    amazon.in

    A painful and nostalgic novel describing the lives of the Das siblings and the tenuous, yet love-filled relationship, only siblings can share and understand. Amazing.

    11. Mahasweta by Sudha Murthy - ₹185

    amazon.in

    Explore the social stigma and ostracism that a woman faces, and how she overcomes it, in this poignant and eye-opening book by everyone's favourite writer, Sudha Murthy.

    12. Train To Pakistan by Khushwant Singh - ₹123

    amazon.in

    A gut-wrenching testimonial of the Partition, read it to know more about the events that transpired at the time - beyond the political and social versions.

    13. The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy - ₹193

    amazon.in

    A hard-hitting story of two siblings, which delves into the concepts of caste, communism, and Indian politics. Brutally realistic.

    14. Those Pricey Thakur Girls by Anuja Chauhan - ₹218

    amazon.in

    Experience Chauhan's writing at its best with this witty slice-of-life rom-com.

    15. Twinkle Khanna's amazingly comical Mrs. Funnybones which brings out the nuances of Indian family life - ₹150

    amazon.in

    Get it here!

    16. A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth - ₹929

    amazon.in

    Seth, very adeptly, manages to amalgamate themes of caste, post-Independence chaos and confusion, marriage and social customs, in this beautiful book. Your bookcase needs a copy.