If you're a bibliophile, you'll swear by the fact that books help you understand the world just a little bit better. However, this one aspect isn't just related to philosophical thoughts.

Books, if read carefully, can help you understand the culture, food and even the people of the place where it is set. If you want to understand India better, here are the nine books you need to read:

1. 'India After Gandhi' by Ramachandra Guha

An extremely well-researched book, 'India After Gandhi' is one of the best books to pick up if you want to look at India's growth in the modern time. The novel recounts the events that took place in India after its Independence. Throughout the novel, you'll see that India is struggling to maintain its democratic status, people are at each other's throats because of the lingual differences and there's also people killing each other but by the end of it, all people come together and even stronger for their own country.

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2. 'Freedom At Midnight' by Dominique Lapierre and Larry Collins

Even though the book only recounts the year that India got its Independence, the vivid narrative is about a very important part in India's history. We get a closer look at exactly what went behind the fall of the British Raj in India and how many great personalities at that time fought for the freedom we enjoy today. If anything, it will help you appreciate and value the privileges you have today.

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3. 'Train to Pakistan' by Khushwant Singh

Set in the fictional town of Mano Majra, the book by Khushwant Singh captures the emotional and literal pain of partition. The fictional town lies at the border of Pakistan and India. While the book is short, we get to know closely most of the characters in the book, all of who come from different parts of the society. This book will also help you understand the cultural and social structure of the society that found in the middle of Partition. It may help you understand better the pain of the event from the point of view of the masses.

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4. 'Kargil: From Surprise To Victory' by V. P. Malik

The Kargil War is still fresh in our memories and this account of it by the service chief during the situation is going to give you a deeper insight into what exactly happened. The book rests heavily on facts but still manages to keep you on your toes. The narrative of how India finally got its victory will make you feel extremely proud of our defense forces.

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5. 'Taste Of India' by Madhur Jaffrey

This isn't just a simple book about food but about the rich Indian culture. The author uses her knowledge to talk about the ingredients and recipes that are close to every Indian's heart. However, she has delivered a generous garnishing of anecdotes from her own life which convey just how diverse and beautiful our culture is.

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6. '2 States: The Story Of My Marriage' by Chetan Bhagat

Love him or hate him, you cannot deny the fact that he writes on some extremely relatable topics. The story revolves around a North Indian boy who falls in love with a South Indian girl. The families, however, are not in support of their union and do not give permission for marriage. This story of how our society is changing and struggling with traditions while trying to be modern will resonate with every millennial India.

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7. 'India Unbound' by Gurcharan Das

This one covers a vast period of India that saw a lot of changes. It recounts the period from 1947 to 1999 from an economic and social point of view. The way it is written makes the book a rather interesting read and one that will help you understand the India of today much better.

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8. 'The White Tiger' by Arvind Adiga

The book deals with the issues India faces, especially because of the class divide. Explained through the story of Balram who travels to Delhi to be a driver for a rich man and then eventually to Bangalore after murdering his boss and stealing money. The book looks at the issue of poverty in India from a more empathetic point of view. You will be able to understand the issues of loyalty, poverty and religion much better after reading this story.

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9. 'The God Of Small Things' by Arundhati Roy

This is the story of two fraternal twins, Estha and Rahel. They're being raised by a single mother in a very dysfunctional family. They have grown up seeing Velutha working around the house and they love spending time with him even though, socially, he belongs to a 'lower caste'. The story captures our society's struggle with the idea of caste and the 'love laws' that come into being because of such divisions.

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