We are like that only by Rama Bijapurkar

Taking cues from economics, demography, history, culture, philosophy and good old common sense, Rama Bijapurkar tries to make sense of the complex and inscrutable Indian market—the many Consumer, their diverse and schizophrenic consumer behaviour and the way to make your company’s fortune in this billion plus market. In "We are like that only" Bijapurkar answers many questions like, Why is the India market untenable? Will India really be the world’s next consumption powerhouse? Does the Indian middle class really exist? What is the exact purchasing power of this market? Is there really a fortune at the bottom of the pyramid? Why are demand patterns so capricious? Is rural India a sophisticated or a primitive market?

Quote from the book: ‘The Indian market is about a lot of people consuming a little bit each that adds up to a lot . . . the Indian DNA is about continuity with change; it is about “THIS as well as THAT”; about cobbling together clever and low-cost solutions that are ingenious combinations and adaptations of products available in the market.’

Irreverent and insightful, Bijapurkar answers all these questions as it casts an unblinking eye on twelve key facets of Consumer India. It successfully fathoms how much Indians earn, how they consume, what they consume and what dictates their consumption choices. A list of good related books...

Mahashweta by Sudha Murthy

Mahashweta by Sudha Murthy is an inspiring story of courage and resilience in a world marred by illusions and betrayals. This poignant tale offers hope and solace to the victims of the prejudices that govern society even today. The story is about Anupama, who's fairytale marriage to Anand falls apart when she discovers a white patch on her foot and learns that she has leukoderma. She is abandoned by her uncaring in-laws and insensitive husband and is forced to return to her fathers home in the village. The social stigma of a married woman living with her parents, her stepmothers continual barbs and the ostracism that accompanies her skin condition force her to contemplate suicide. Determined to rebuild her life against all odds, Anupama goes to Bombay where she finds success, respect and the promise of an enduring friendship.

Sudha Murthy has portrayed various aspects of Indian society – arranged marriages, dominating mother in-law, helpful friends, hypocrite relatives, a cursing stepmother, and worried parents of a young Indian girl.

Curfewed Night by Basharat Peer

Kashmir has been ill-served by India, by Pakistan, by the militants and by its own politicians who have failed to work out a compromise. It has turned the serene valley into the bloodied nose of Asia. “Curfewed Night” is a chronicle from the eyes of a Kashmiri growing up in the valley and watching it transform into a hotbed of violent militancy pitted against state oppression. It is also about people unwilling to lose their identity. What is it about identity that causes people to sacrifice their future in its name? Identity is the most powerful mobilizing force in history. But what happens when identity gets into a perpetual conflict with those who wish to crush it?

Peer tells the story of this valley at peace in the 1980s but also of a people who consciously refused to associate themselves with India. Then- long before the terrorism and violence of that we’ve grown accustomed to- national identity had one litmus test: which side were you on of Miandad’s famous last ball sixer at Sharjah? Peer describes the jubilation that his family, his neighborhood and his valley experienced when Miandad hit Chetan Sharma out of the ground to win Pakistan an impossible victory. Pakistan won and Kashmir jubilated. It wasn’t just Pakistan. Kashmiris supported any and all teams which played against India. They rejected India more than they associate with Pakistan- a point often forgotten by Pakistanis. In subjection Kashmiris held on to their identity and rejected the one imposed on them. For other books on Kashmir and issues in Kashmir click here...

Shantaram by Gregory David Robert

The epic novel Shantaram follows Gregory's entrancing life in India, detailing his involvement with the mafia as a money launderer, forger and street soldier before being thrown in an Indian prison. The novel follows him to Afghanistan where he fought with the Mujahideen.

The groundbreaking novel 'Shantaram' spans the world between fact and fiction seamlessly. Gregory David Roberts, an armed robber and Heroin addict escaped from an Australian prison. He eventually fled to India, a country he fell in love with. He changed his name to Lin. Embracing the wonderful culture Robert's learned Hindi and Marathi, the majority of the latter was learned in a remote village. He returned to Mumbai and began living in a slum, establishing a free health clinic for the slum dwellers.

The novels writing style is clever and descriptive enough to immerse you in a story where you quickly move from adventure to adventure, top of the world to heartache. This novel which Robert's wrote 3 times due to it being repeatedly destroyed in prison is worth the wait. Not only is it an education about India and its culture, it shows the unseen Bombay underworld and takes you on a roller coaster ride of literary brilliance.

History Books

Someone has rightly said, ‘History is the best way to study case studies, so that we don’t commit the blunder of our ancestors’. What is history? a continuous, systematic narrative of past events as relating to a particular people, country, period, person, etc., usually written as a chronological account; chronicle. Since historians are simultaneously observers and participants, the historical works they produce are written from the perspective of their own time and sometimes with due concern for possible lessons for their own future. Traditionally, historians have recorded events of the past, either in writing or by passing on an oral tradition, and have attempted to answer historical questions through the study of written documents and oral accounts.

So, even if you are not a history student try to know as much history as possible. History books may range from different countries like those about Europe, United States, and Africa or may be social history or just about Expeditions & Discoveries etc. A few famous books on history are:

* The French Revolution
* The War of American Independence
* A History of India Volume 1

Penguin Yearbook 2009 - Derek O`brien

The Penguin Yearbook 2009 starts with a thorough ‘Year in Review’ section that is specially designed to bring you up to date on the events of the previous year, with informative write-ups on newsmakers, obituaries, and India and World datelines. There are also detailed timelines of Indian and world history from the beginning of civilization to the present.

The Penguin Yearbook brings you news that you wont find elsewhere, along with in-depth analyses that provide you with a perspective on recent happenings and current trends. Its the one book you need to read to make sense of everything thats going on around you and to keep abreast of what everyone is talking about.

Other books on India from Penguin
* The Penguin India Factfile
* The Penguin India Cinema Quiz Book
* The Penguin India 2003 Quiz Book