Fiction
Midnight's Children by Salman Rushdie — The essential novel of post-partition India, following a child born at the exact moment of independence whose life mirrors the fortunes of the nation. Rich, funny, and brilliant. Don't let the reputation of Rushdie's other books put you off this one.
A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth — Set in post-independence India in the early 1950s, this enormous novel covers family, politics, religion, and romance in a way that makes it feel like a complete immersion in a world. One of the great novels of the 20th century.
A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry — A devastating novel set during Indira Gandhi's Emergency in the 1970s. Four characters whose lives intertwine in a city slum. Not a comfortable read, but an honest and important one.
The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy — Set in Kerala, this Man Booker winner traces the lives of a twin brother and sister and the slow unravelling of their family across caste and history. Beautiful, heartbreaking.
The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga — A darkly funny novel narrated by a driver from rural Bihar who makes his way in the new India. Good on the widening gulf between rich and poor.
Non-Fiction and Travel Writing
In Spite of the Gods by Edward Luce — The former Financial Times bureau chief in India writes a clear-eyed account of modern India: its rise, its contradictions, its caste system, and its democracy. Published in 2006 but still highly readable.
Maximum City: Bombay Lost and Found by Suketu Mehta — A Mumbai native returns after years in New York and writes about the city's gangsters, dancers, police, and film industry. Dense, vivid, brilliant.
India: A History by John Keay — The most accessible single-volume history of the subcontinent, from the Indus Valley civilisation to independence. Excellent preparation.
Holy Cow by Sarah Macdonald — An Australian journalist arrives in India hating it, ends up living there for two years, and explores every major religion in the country. Less heavyweight than the others; often very funny.