India in bite-sized podcasts

What better way to get a quick overview of 3,000 years of history? BBC puts together succinct and informative episodes, focused on 50 hugely influential Indians, one person at a time. 

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India loves cricket & a feel-good movie:

Nicknamed the "Indian​ Tom Hanks", Aamir Khan stars in this heart-warming story of Indian villagers vs. soldiers in the British Raj in a high-stakes cricket match. There are some great dance numbers and you'll see the love of the game behind India's de-facto national sport.

 

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Relevant for travel in south India / Kerala backwaters:​

This beautiful, beautiful novel hits on the ideas of love, madness, hope, despair, joy, and infinity. All told through the eyes of children in the impoverished villages of Kerala. Kerala retains more native landscape and a slower pace of life than many other locations experienced by tourists, it's well worth the visit AND the read.

 

 

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Gandhi influenced Indian and global history:

Odds are you've heard of Gandhi. From global press coverage of his civil non-disobedience salt march to his outspoken views on partition, Gandhi was deeply involved in Indian politics all the way up to his assassination. Read about him in his own words in the classic autobiography.

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But Tagore was a more accomplished poet-philosopher

Odds are less likely you've heard of Tagore. He was a brilliant thinker and remains a modern day hero to many Indians, especially Bengali-Indians.

• Know of him if you're traveling through Kolkota and West Bengal - You may still find his photo on the wall in many family homes. And everyone knows at least a few of his words - Tagore wrote India's national anthem (even had an influence on Sri Lanka's national anthem).

• Short stories - His short stories are beautifully described, insight into rural east India.

• Gitanjali -  earned a Nobel Prize for beautiful verse in song offerings.

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See Bombay through foreign eyes:

One of my favorite novels, and an unbelievable based-on-true-events story, it's a must-read novel if visiting Mumbai. Roberts captures many quirks, philosophical arguments, the slums, the corruption, the code of the mafia, urban streets, the Himalayas, and more.

 

 

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This is not your classic Bollywood song and dance but an action-packed female empowered thriller:

It's another good one for travel in Kolkotta and West Bengal, or through the Durga Pooja holiday. Kolkotta is notorious for its Durga Pooja celebrations, exemplified in the backdrop of this bonafide thriller. One of my favorite Bollywood movies.

 

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Widely regarded as some of the world's best cinema: 

And be prepared, it's cinema. It's black-and-white, it's from the 1950's - but it's so beautiful. The trilogy is a slow-moving story of a poor Bengali family and the growth of, Apu, through adulthood. The little ups and downs, joys and sorrows are wonderfully created by India's master director, Satyajit Ray.

• Pather Pachali - childhood innocence and the harsh realities of life in a Bengali village

• Aparajito - Life in Varanasi, education and religion.

• Apu Sansar - the story concludes with Apu's adulthood, tying together his many lives. 

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The quintessential Bollywood romantic comedy:

This is your classic song-and-dance Bollywood blockbuster. What more needs to be said? It has the songs and dances, the romance, and the laughs to keep many generations entertained. And one of many such Shah Rukh Khan classics.

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Oscar-winning take of the slums and a one-in-a-million story: 

Danny Boyle directs this Oscar-winning, 8 Academy Awarded epic that looks back on the life experiences of a man from Mumbai's slums. Uplifting, yet grounded in many tough realities. It's a good watch.

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Relevant to travel in Madhya Pradesh:

Rudyard Kipling wrote a collection of short stories, known as, The Jungle Book. He was born, and initially raised, in Madhya Pradesh's central jungles. You'll recognize much of India's biodiversity - Baloo the Sloth Bear, ​Bageera the Panther, Khaa the python, or Shere-Khan the tiger in the classic Disney film.

 

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Another foreigner's take on India, in the British Raj:

A Passage to India qualifies for many lists of the best novels ever written. It is funny and cynical of British rule in India. The movie is another classic, directed by David Lean (Lawrence of Arabia), nominated for 9 Oscar's. 

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Perhaps the best short story writer you've never read:

Manto compiles an array of perspectives from a brutal partition. The 1947 creation of India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh displaced between 10–12 million people on the basis of religion. Neighboring towns, like Lahore and Amritsar suddenly found themselves on opposite sides of the new border between Islamic, Pakistan and Hindu, India. A refugee crisis quickly emerged, documented through many characters in Manto's stories.

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A Bollywood western for the ages

Widely renowned as one of the best Bollywood's ever created and my personal favorite as well, Sholay has it all.​ The old western vibes, a strong bromance, an evil villain, and plot for revenge. Saddle up for a 3+ hour epic tale.

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The Booker of all Bookers

Not only was this book awarded the Booker Prize for best novel in 1981, but it was named the best Booker of Bookers in the prize's forty year history. Salmon Rushdie weaves a narrative of magical realism that connect to significant events of Indian history. It will both devastate you and make you laugh.  

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Hindu and Buddhist canon across southeast Asia

The epics are a collection of parabolic lessons and adventure. They and among the world's best read and most recognizable stories. Both are worth understanding to interpret culture - history, architecture, philosophy from India to Cambodia, Indonesia to China. Gandhi deeply affected by the Bhagavad Gita (part of the Mahabharatha), he memorized the famous poem given to Arjuna by Krishna on the eve of battle.

• And if old manuscripts don't sound exciting - try by podcast to listen to the Mahabharatha.