7 Best Hindi Books to Read for Those Who Love Indian Literature
Looking for some interesting Indian writings, prose and poetry? Look no further, because our handpicked suggestions of the best Hindi books are sure to keep you engrossed.
Hindi literature is an underrated genre. Housing numerous and the best Hindi books from famous writers like Premchand, Dharamveer Bharti, and more, this section of novels is truly a treasure trove. Buy a couple of these for yourself or for your family and unlock a new world that effortlessly blends reality with fiction.
Our Top Picks:
List of 7 Best Hindi Books to Read
Godan by Munshi Premchand
Godan is one of the most cherished pieces of work in Hindi literature. It is based on the exploitation of Indian farmers at the hands of money lenders and landlords. The book revolves around the life of a poor peasant – Hori, who is a victim of circumstances. All he desires is to have a cow, just like other peasants; but every time he collects money, events take a turn and Hori is bound to use that money to undo the whole situation. It is a story about his honesty towards his family, duties, and a dream left unfulfilled.
This book deals with power and suffering as its central themes. How the money lenders make peasantry suffer is depicted in detail.
Formats Available:
- Paperback
- Kindle
- Audiobook
Madhushala by Harivansh Rai Bachchan
Madhushala by Harivansh Rai Bachchan is a collection of 135 four-liner verses or quatrains. It is a metaphorical poem that compares a tavern to freedom. The poem is majorly based on imagery that uses four primary objects to focus on different aspects of life. For every reader, the poem lays out a different meaning. The book describes every experience of life that weighs down upon the human being and how one must shield themselves from such external forces.
Formats Available:
- Paperback
- Hardcover
- Kindle
Chanakya Neeti by Aswini Parashar
This book by Ashwini Parashar compiles all the ideas and advice from Chanakya – the best known Indian theorist and a noble advisor to the Mauryan empire. Chankaya Neeti focuses on how one can escape the evils of life and be happy and content. It also focuses on detailed theories and discoveries based on how he saw people leading their lives in ancient times. It throws some light on ideologies developed in ancient times that hold relevance in the daily life of an individual even today.
Formats Available:
- Paperback
- Hardcover
- Kindle
Mrinalini by Bankimchandra Chatterjee
A classical true love story with a fine touch of Indian-ness, Mrinalini is the third novel by Bengali novelist Bankimchandra Chatterjee. One of the best hindi books if you’re looking for a light-hearted romance story, it is a story of a girl named Mrinalini who is in love with prince of Magadh, Hemchandra. The story marks the author’s first attempt to set his story against a larger historical context. Hailing from different regions, what will happen when Mrinalini – a commoner from Mathura secretly marries Hemchandra? You’ve to read the book to find out!
Formats Available:
- Paperback
41 Anmol Kahaniya by Munshi Premchand
This book is an anthology of 41 short stories written by Premchand during the initial stages of his career. The collection has various life-changing stories that bring to light the struggles of urban middle class and villagers. It covers numerous heart-touching stories that are equally fascinating and intriguing for anyone who loves Hindi literature. This book shows how versatile a writer Premchand was. It delves deep into the characters and lays bare the truths of life.
Formats Available:
- Paperback
Gunaho Ka Devta by Dharamveer Bharti
This book by Dharamveer Bharti is about an effervescent love story of the upper middle class. Chander is an orphan and young researcher who is mentored by Dr Shukla. He is very close to Dr Shukla’s daughter Sudha and shares a deep bond with her. While both are clearly in love with each other, none of them initiates this conversation. Besides, Chander is from a lower caste than Sudha, and he must not dare to ask Sudha’s hand in marriage. This book highlights the divisional aspect of society that expects people to follow their birth society’s values and judges them for making choices.
Formats Available:
- Paperback
- Hardcover
Kafan by Munshi Premchand
Kafan by Munshi Premchand revolves around a family of lower-class villagers in India. The father and son are poor labourers who face a difficult situation in life. The son’s wife dies while giving birth to their child and the poor labourers have no money to cremate the body. To buy a kafan or shroud to cover up the dead body, they ask for money from the village zamindar and other members of the high society. Kafan brings to light the struggles of poverty and problems faced by poor people and is truly one of the best hindi books ever written.
Formats Available:
- Paperback
- Hardcover
- Kindle
List of Best Hindi Books and Novels in Indian Literature
| Best Hindi Books | Price |
| Godan by Munshi Premchand | Rs 166 |
| Madhushala by Harivansh Rai Bachchan | Rs 122 |
| Chanakya Neeti by Aswini Parashar | Rs 114 |
| Mrinalini by Bankimchandra Chatterjee | Rs 99 |
| 41 Anmol Kahaniya by Munshi Premchand | Rs 158 |
| Gunaho Ka Devta by Dharamveer Bharti | Rs 167 |
| Kafan by Munshi Premchand | Rs 86 |
