Shashi Tharoor

Shashi Tharoor is an Indian author, politician, and former diplomat. He has written numerous books on India's history, culture, and politics, and is known for his eloquent speeches and writings. Tharoor has served as a Member of Parliament and has held various positions within the United Nations.

This list of books are ONLY the books that have been ranked on the lists that are aggregated on this site. This is not a comprehensive list of all books by this author.

  1. 1. The Great Indian Novel

    This book is a satirical take on Indian politics and history, cleverly intertwined with characters and events from the epic Mahabharata. The narrative presents a parallel between the two, with the characters in the novel mirroring significant figures from India's political scene during the Independence and post-Independence era. The book is a humorous yet thought-provoking critique of Indian society and politics, offering a unique blend of myth, history, and satire.

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  2. 2. India

    From Midnight to the Millennium and Beyond

    This insightful work delves into the rich tapestry of India's history, culture, and politics, offering a nuanced perspective on its evolution from colonial times to the present day. The narrative weaves together the complexities of India's diverse society, exploring its challenges and triumphs while reflecting on its global significance. Through a blend of historical analysis and personal anecdotes, the book provides a comprehensive understanding of the forces that have shaped modern India, making it a compelling read for anyone interested in the subcontinent's past and future.

  3. 3. The Struggle For India's Soul

    Nationalism and the Fate of Democracy

    The book delves into the complex and multifaceted journey of a nation grappling with its identity amidst the tides of modernity and tradition. It explores the historical, cultural, and political forces that have shaped the country's ethos, examining the tensions between secularism and religious nationalism. Through a critical lens, the narrative highlights the challenges and aspirations of a diverse populace striving for unity and progress, while confronting the legacies of colonialism and the aspirations of a burgeoning global power.

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  4. 4. The Paradoxical Prime Minister

    Narendra Modi and His India

    This insightful narrative delves into the complex persona of India's 14th Prime Minister, exploring the dualities and contradictions that define his leadership and political journey. The book offers a critical examination of his policies, rhetoric, and the broader socio-political landscape of India under his tenure. Through a blend of historical context, personal anecdotes, and analytical commentary, it paints a nuanced portrait of a leader whose actions and ideologies often spark debate and division, reflecting the multifaceted nature of contemporary Indian politics.

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  5. 5. An Era Of Darkness

    The British Empire in India

    This compelling narrative delves into the profound impact of British colonial rule on India, meticulously examining the economic, political, and cultural ramifications of the Empire's exploitative practices. Through a blend of historical analysis and poignant anecdotes, the book challenges the glorified perception of the British Raj, highlighting the systematic plundering and oppressive policies that left a lasting scar on the subcontinent. It serves as a powerful critique of colonialism, urging readers to reconsider the romanticized narratives of imperial history and recognize the enduring consequences faced by the colonized.

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  6. 6. Inglorious Empire

    What the British Did to India

    A concise, impassioned critique of British colonial rule in India arguing that imperial policies systematically impoverished and deindustrialized the subcontinent through economic extraction, punitive taxation, destructive trade rules and administrative decisions that caused famines and stunted growth; it dismantles myths of a benevolent empire by documenting the fiscal “drain,” racial attitudes and institutional harms, and calls for an honest reckoning with the long-term damage and injustices left by colonialism.

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  7. 7. The Five Dollar Smile And Other Stories

    A lively collection of short stories that skewers and sympathizes with contemporary Indian life and its expatriate echoes, following a range of characters—from diplomats and politicians to immigrants, bureaucrats, and ordinary city-dwellers—whose ambitions, vanities and small acts of compassion reveal class tensions, cultural collisions and the ironies of modernity; the tone shifts between sharp satire and quiet pathos, using polished, observant prose to explore love, identity, power and the absurdities of social change.

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  8. 8. Why I Am A Hindu

    A Manifesto

    A personal and scholarly defense of Hinduism as an open, pluralistic, and reformist faith, the book traces philosophical roots and scriptural diversity while rejecting ritualistic conservatism and exclusionary political uses of religion; it critiques caste discrimination and communalism, argues that religious belief can coexist with modern liberal values, and combines memoir, historical analysis, and polemic to reclaim a tolerant, ethical vision of Hindu identity in contemporary public life.

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