By EFTeam Well, everyone knows what biography books are, you know, where we get to see some writer talk about or present a famous person’s life incidents very closely, right? And then there are autobiographies, which are biography books written by that same person, it is like you write a biography book about yourself. Though there are hundreds and thousands of these books out there, there are some you should check out if you just love reading biographies. And yes, here we’re about to list down the top 10 famous autobiography books in India. So, let’s just get to the list right away, shall we?
1. The Story of My Experiments with Truth by Mahatma Gandhi
Alright, here’s the incredible fact, did you know that Mahatma Gandhi began writing his autobiography on a ship? Yes, like, between the years 1925 and 1929, he wrote the greatest possible book in Indian writing. In that, Gandhiji made the payment of his life, from childhood mischievous days in Gujarat through his all-changing moments in South Africa, you know? Though keep in mind that it’s not a biography, it gives a glimpse into the ways he mapped out his revolutionary ideas of non-violence and truth. This is certainly one book that needs to be read by anyone who wants to understand the person who kinda liberated India.
2. Wings of Fire by Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam
So, imagine a boy from a tiny seaport in Tamil Nadu growing up to be the “Missile Man” of India and later its President. That sure deserves a Bollywood film on this man and his amazing life that changed the course of India forever. Well, that is the very story that Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam narrates in Wings of Fire, you know? Not just that though, this one, co-written with Arun Tiwari, it’s replete with inspiring moments, from the boy’s struggles through his childhood, through educational institutions, and finally to the great aerospace and defense leanings of his life, in short, a lot to learn from it.
3. Waiting for a Visa by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar
The shocker is that Waiting for a Visa is just 20 pages long: though just a few pages, it strikes harder than most novels, we can say THAT for sure. Like, with this one, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar takes a close look at his life and brings forward the blatant ugly truth of casteism in India. Sure enough, he indulges in a few personal narrations, thus laying bare the sufferings that the very history of the Dalit people possessed right here in India, and that certainly would be quite eye-opening for many of you.
4. The Race of My Life by Milkha Singh
Milkha Singh’s life is something out of a blockbuster, and we got to see his story in his movie titled “Milkha Singh” which is a super hit movie in itself. Well, he sure faced losses in his life during the time of Partition but found his purpose in athletics. And just so you know, the Race of My Life, co-authored by his daughter Sonia Sanwalka, takes the reader through the magnificent life journey of this sporting lion with many sad events in his life, enormous perseverance, and glory.
5. Beyond the Last Blue Mountain by R.M. Lala
We all know about Tata Group, but do you know how it actually started? Well, Beyond the Last Blue Mountain is an account of J.R.D. Tata, you know, the man who brought aviation to India and built a thriving business empire. R.M. Lala characterizes life in Tata’s world, his inventions, his morals, and his habit of realizing ideas. If you want to read a pretty powerful story of a man who literally impacted India the most in a good way, well, now you have an option in your hands.
6. Playing It My Way by Sachin Tendulkar
Well, just tell us, what does it feel like to be called the “God of Cricket”? Only Sachin Tendulkar can tell us all in Playing It My Way. You know, like, from how he learned to play cricket with a tennis ball in the bylanes of Mumbai to how he shattered records, lifted the 2011 World Cup, and everything else in between, to be an absolute treasure with stories. Let’s put it simply, if you love cricket, you must read this one, simple as that.
7. Truth, Love & a Little Malice by Khushwant Singh
Khushwant Singh, who was never a writer, but always a living, breathing controversy, and he was awfully aware of that too! You know, like, this book carries all of his unapologetic views on politics, society, and even self-reflection. Sure enough, If you are an admirer of bold, irreverently humorous, and brutally honest narration, then grab this book straight away., that’s all we’d say.
8. Ente Katha (My Story) by Kamala Surayya
Eighth on the list, you see, Kamala Surayya’s Ente Katha was well ahead of its time when it came into existence in 1973. It does not only discuss anything from love to relationships to the social pressures that women go through, so she really goes wide open in her story.
9. Satyajit Ray: The Inner Eye by Andrew Robinson
Consider this indeed a good thing: The Inner Eye is really a backstage access entry into the genius of Satyajit Ray, you know? Like, this book by Andrew Robinson penetrated the creative process of Ray in the making of cinematic gems such as the trio Apu Trilogy. It’s so full of anecdotes, interviews, and insights into one of the greatest of Indian filmmakers, that’s for sure.
10. The Man Who Knew Infinity by Robert Kanigel
Alright, we’d certainly say that Srinivasa Ramanujan’s story is magic. Just picture a self-taught mathematician from the South, Tamil Nadu, and then, blows the minds of the scholars at Cambridge University! The Man Who Knew Infinity is the crystallization of Ramanujan’s brilliance and also brings to light the struggles an individual faces in a foreign land. He was the one who amazed millions outside of India, so let this book amaze you by telling his story.
Conclusion
To be honest, these are literally the best ones out there, not just in India, but some of them are actually world-famous. So, while you’re at it, and want to read something really inspiring and real-life based, you must check out these, it’ll all be worth it.