History is often misunderstood and judged for its intensity and unassuming influence on our lives. It is like a skeleton in the closet, whose presence looms large but one that we try not to acknowledge. It’s everywhere — in the food we eat, the clothes we wear, the buildings we pass by and whatever we read. Yet, these stories, waiting to be heard, are locked up behind cobwebbed doors and forgotten. An easier way to approach history is to pick up a book, leaf through its comforting pages and watch the past unfurl through the eyes of a writer weaving a masterly tale. Here are five books that can help you in your quest for history.
Bhimayana: Experiences of Untouchability by Srividya Natarajan and S. Anand This bold graphic novel is more of an experience than a book. With intricate Gond art by Durgabai and Subhash Vyam, the book is a liberated work of art. Nothing is done by the book here (pun intended), and the seamless narrative floats seamlessly through the life and times of B.R. Ambedkar. The writing is simple, honest and intense.
Ponniyin Selvan by Kalki (Translated by Karthik Narayanan) A tale of passion, violence, conspiracy, love and politics, this five-part series by Kalki Krishnamoorthy, a Tamil writer, looks at the Chola dynasty at its peak. The series explores the rise of Arunmozhi Varman who came to be known as Raja Raja and his coronation, interspersing fact and fiction into a spellbinding tale. The story begins with the reign of Sundara Chola and tells the history of the Cholas through the eyes of a warrior, Vallavarayan Vandhiyathevan.
Gypsy Goddess by Meena KandasamyGypsy Goddess is a powerful tale of how caste can influence the history and people of an area. Based on the killings that took place on Christmas in 1968, the book revolves around the people of a village near Tanjore. The villagers go on strike because of the murder of a communist leader, while the upper-caste landlords try to threaten them into working. When the villagers stand their ground, they are rounded up in a hut by a group of hooligans and burned. The rest, as they say, is history.
Train to Pakistan by Khushwant Singh Intense, violent and deeply moving, Train to Pakistan is a classic and is usually in all the must-read Indian literary lists. Set in the fictional border town of Mano Majra during the partition, the story explores religion and the impact of the Indian Independence and the subsequent creation of Pakistan.
The Glass Palace by Amitav Ghosh Set in Burma and Bengal (mostly), Ghosh’s historical novel explores the Konbaung Dynasty, which ruled Mandalay during the times of the Second World War. Through the life of its protagonist, Rajkumar, the book explores the changing landscape of Burma after the kingdom is ousted and also India as it moves forward after Independence.
