MAJOR INDIAN BOOKS AND AUTHORS — LITERARY, HISTORICAL AND INSPIRATIONAL WORKS

PRERNA FOR IAS

         Mehnat Aapki, Guidance Humari

         Roz ki Prelims Practice — Experts ke Saath

MAJOR INDIAN BOOKS AND AUTHORS — LITERARY, HISTORICAL AND INSPIRATIONAL WORKS

1. Importance of Books in Indian Heritage

• Indian literature reflects the country’s religion, philosophy, society, history, nationalism and cultural diversity.
• It ranges from ancient Sanskrit epics and devotional literature to modern novels, poetry, political writings and autobiographies.
• Important books and their authors are frequently asked in competitive examinations and also help in understanding India’s intellectual traditions.

2. Ramcharitmanas — Goswami Tulsidas

• Ramcharitmanas was composed by Goswami Tulsidas in Awadhi during the 16th century.
• It retells the story of Lord Rama and draws substantially from the Ramayana tradition.
• The work greatly strengthened the Bhakti tradition and made the story of Rama accessible to ordinary people through a popular regional language.
• It remains one of the most influential devotional works of northern India.

3. Mahabharata — Traditionally Attributed to Vyasa

• The Mahabharata is one of India’s two great Sanskrit epics and is traditionally attributed to Vyasa.
• It narrates the conflict between the Kauravas and Pandavas and contains extensive discussions on ethics, politics, society and philosophy.
• The Bhagavad Gita forms part of the Mahabharata.
• It should be remembered that the epic developed over a long period and cannot be treated simply as the work of one historical author.

4. Gitanjali — Rabindranath Tagore

• Gitanjali, meaning “Song Offerings”, is a celebrated collection of poems by Rabindranath Tagore.
• Tagore received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1913, becoming the first Asian Nobel laureate in Literature. (Nobel Prize)
• His writings combine themes of spirituality, nature, freedom and humanism.
• It is more accurate to say that Tagore received the Nobel Prize for his literary achievement, with Gitanjali playing a central role in his international recognition. (Nobel Prize)

5. The Discovery of India — Jawaharlal Nehru