By EFTeam Without a single doubt, there are millions of people who love reading books in India, and that’s why there is always a high demand for good authors and their amazing work that can keep the readers kinda hooked for good. So, surely, there are a lot of books that have been sold many times, probably millions of copies so far, right? Does that make you wonder, like, which are the most and best-selling books in India so far? Well, if that’s something you feel kinda intrigued about at the moment, then just keep on reading because this post is all about sharing the list of the top 10 most-selling books in India. Let’s get going then, shall we?
1. The God of Small Things – Arundhati Roy
Are you aware of the fact that Arundhati Roy’s first novel became a runaway success? Yes, we’re talking about the “The God of Small Things” book, which actually came out way back in 1997, sold over 6 million copies around the world, and won the Man Booker Prize too. How about that now? For those who don’t know anything about it yet, well, the narrative is about twin siblings, Estha and Rahel, who grew up in Kerala. With this one though, the writing is beautiful, and the emotions are deep, so yes, in a way, no wonder it became such a bestseller!
2. Midnight’s Children – Salman Rushdie
Surely, we’re certain that this book is one of a kind! Midnight’s Children was released in 1981. Within a year, it sold more than 500,000 copies in India alone. It even won the Booker Prize twice (kind of). Saleem Sinai was born at the exact moment that India became independent, you know, like, his life is magically connected to India’s history. The book is a mixture of actuality with fantasy events which is interesting.
3. A Suitable Boy – Vikram Seth
Alright, this next book is HUGE! Quite literally, you see, it’s 1,500 pages long! But don’t let that scare you, it’s actually a super interesting read, you see, it’s a great tale of a mother who will get exactly the husband her daughter desires. Sure enough, taking place in post-independence India, it is filled with drama, romance, and deep insight into politics and society. This book has sold millions of copies since it was published in 1993, just saying.
4. The Namesake – Jhumpa Lahiri
Straight up with the best-selling numbers, well, the Namesake was published in 2003 and has sold over a million copies. This one tells the story of an Indian family living in the U.S. and their struggle of identity and belonging. For those who don’t know yet, the protagonist Gogol has a name that he doesn’t like and a life that he is deciphering or decoding in a way. It’s an easy read but so emotional!
5. Train to Pakistan – Khushwant Singh
Something we want to say about this next one, that would be: Yes, this book is powerful! How and why? Well, for those who don’t know yet, Train to Pakistan is about the partition of India and was released in 1956. Sure enough, the book has sold hundreds of thousands of copies due to its true story told in such a heart-wrenching and in a way that will make you feel goosebumps throughout. In other words, it leaves a mark on you.
6. Fasting, Feasting – Anita Desai
And then, this next book is about two very different lives. Within these pages, you’ll read that Uma is an Indian woman trapped in a rigid traditional family, though her brother, by contrast, enjoys a freer lifestyle in the United States. Fasting, Feasting was published back in 1999 and it has been a bestseller since.
7. Life of Pi – Yann Martel
Remember that world-class, oscar-winning, and visually stunning movie named Life Of Pi, yes, that one is actually the visual representation of this book. This book is wild! The writer’s from Canada and set the story in India and it was a huge hit here. Life of Pi was released in 2001, and it has sold more than 10 million copies, just saying! If you have not read this story yet, you must read it especially since the film won an Oscar!
8. The Inheritance of Loss – Kiran Desai
And then, this next book is all about change. Just so you know though, this book won the Man Booker Prize in 2006 and sold over 1 million copies worldwide. If you have no idea what the story is all about, well, the judge and his orphan granddaughter fight with life and their world in the Himalayas where the story takes place. It’s a powerful script that has the ability to turn your world upside down, you’ll certainly end up liking this one.
9. Shadow Lines – Amitav Ghosh
Alrighty, history lovers out there, this one’s for you! How and why? Well, Shadow Lines is a 1988 published book about how great events like the partition of India or World War II affect ordinary people’s lives. Want to know just that? Well, you must check out this book then, like, the writing is smart, the story is gripping, and it really makes you think about how the past shapes our present.
10. Five Point Someone – Chetan Bhagat
Lastly, don’t think like this is something boring, nah, this book is so much fun! Out on the shelves in 2004, Five Point Someone is one of India’s biggest bestsellers with over a million copies sold. Three friends struggle with their grades, friendship, and love at IIT, India’s top engineering college. Well, that sounds way too familiar to those who haven’t read it yet, but why? That’s just because the Bollywood movie 3 Idiots is actually a visual representation of this book, and that’s the reason behind it all.
Conclusion
Alright, so if you get down to know why these books are so famous and sold millions of times in India, you’ll get to know a whole different story. If you wanted to check out some books to read, well, now you have a list, so go ahead and give these amazing pieces of work a try.