Discovering Unknown Indian Stories: Where to Begin?

Online book communities can also be very helpful. Platforms like Goodreads have groups dedicated to 19th - century literature. Members of these groups might be able to recommend some great unknown novels from that era. They can share their own experiences of reading these works and provide insights into why these novels are worth exploring.

A great patriotic story is that of Subhas Chandra Bose. He formed the Indian National Army (INA) and fought against the British from the outside. He was so passionate about India's freedom that he allied with the Axis powers during World War II in his quest to liberate India. His famous slogan 'Give me blood, and I shall give you freedom' inspired thousands of Indians.

You could start with 'The God of Small Things'. It's a classic in modern Indian literature. The writing is lyrical and the story is both heart - breaking and thought - provoking. It gives a deep look into the complex social fabric of Kerala, India. The characters are vividly drawn and you can really feel their joys and sorrows. It won the Booker Prize and is widely studied in literature courses around the world.

You can start by looking into some of the less - popular regional Puranas. For example, the Skanda Purana has many stories that are not as widely known. Some local libraries in India might have translations of these texts. Also, there are some online platforms dedicated to Indian mythology where enthusiasts share and discuss such stories.

One unknown story is about the ancient port city of Muziris. It was a major trading hub long ago, with connections to the Roman Empire. Spices, precious stones, and silk were traded there. But over time, it got lost and was only rediscovered through archaeological excavations in recent years.

One of the top romantic Indian novels is 'The Immortals of Meluha' by Amish Tripathi. It has a strong romantic sub - plot that is intertwined with the epic adventure. Another good one is 'Shantaram' by Gregory David Roberts, which, while not strictly an Indian - authored book but set in India, has a great love story. 'The Inheritance of Loss' by Kiran Desai also has elements of love and longing within its broader narrative of loss and identity.

A great Indian horror novel is 'Annihilation' which takes place in a strange, otherworldly setting in India. The sense of isolation and the unknown creates a terrifying atmosphere. Another one is 'It Follows' which has been adapted into a movie. In the book, it has an Indian backdrop and the idea of a menacing entity following the characters is really scary.

The uniqueness of the cultural elements in unknown Indian stories is fascinating. They often contain different religious beliefs, social norms, and values specific to various regions in India that are not commonly known.

Another way to find Hindi Indian audio stories is through YouTube. There are channels dedicated to narrating these stories. They might cover everything from the epics like Ramayana and Mahabharata in an audio - friendly format to modern short stories written by contemporary Indian authors.

Salman Rushdie's 'Midnight's Children' is a must - mention. It's a magical realist take on India's independence and the generation born at that time. It's filled with political and cultural references.