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A daughter of the Devabhasha (language of the Gods) Sanskrit, Hindi in the modern world is the representative of India’s composite and rich culture. A medium of expression for the common people and some of the greatest poets of all times, Hindi with its ever-growing vocabulary is a language for everyone, every mood, and every genre. This balance of grandeur and simplicity of Hindi is best reflected in the literature- poems, stories, and other written material, by writers belonging to different periods and regions. Let us celebrate this Hindi Diwas with a list of 10 books in Hindi that have been loved by readers and critics, making them the recipient of the prestigious Sahitya Akademi Award in Hindi.

Upanishads, literally, “to sit near” (one’s teacher or Guru or a learned personality), in Indian tradition are a group of literature belonging to the Vedanta (the end of the Vedas), which describe the divine Vedic knowledge in an explanatory tone. It is a collection of several books (18 to 108 and more), the wisdom of great sages on matters of samsara (world flow), presenting knowledge that removes agyaan or ignorance and paves the way to the supreme truth. Upanishads contain discussions on the material and metaphysical nature of the world and can be seen as the seeds of Hindu philosophy as we know it today.

Before we search for the best history books on modern India, it is crucial to know which period of Indian history is considered to be modern. India has a vast history enriched with various social & political hegemony. So it is quite difficult to periodize the exact time that we can define as the modern historical period. There was the Vedic era, Hindu, Buddhist & Mughal era followed by the British Raj, but none indicates the beginning of the modern era. However, with the establishment of British rule, people were inclined towards Western education. This trend developed the knowledge of citizenship, people’s rights, administration, social security, etc among them. This new wave gave birth to a social reformation in India that became the approach towards modern India.

India is the land of many wonders and the brightest minds have taken birth here. These have contributed immensely to the growth of Indian literary tradition. Pioneers in various fields have penned many texts that make up the trove of literary treasures of India. Indian authors have created a rich repository of literary gems on various topics and themes. From treatises on medicine to sacred ancient texts, from poetry and plays to political accounts, Indian literature is very diverse and has had a profound impact on the world across a variety of fields.

One of the most precious possessions that India and other South Asian nations have is an unlimited trove of enchanting traditional stories. One of their richest sources is an eleventh-century collection known as the Kathasaritsagara (The Ocean of the Streams of Stories) and local to the then kingdom of Kashmir. Situated at a well-travelled node along the Silk Roads that had connected Asia and Europe for several centuries before, the Kashmiri sovereignty offered a wealth of opportunities for material and cultural exchange. Among their keenest witnesses was a brahmin named Somadeva backed by the Kashmiri court. Even though he was a Shiva devotee like his sponsor, Queen Suryavati, he was well aware of the rich religious diversity in their midst. The tales he told, then, featured all manner of characters, many of them drawn from even earlier traditional works—such as the great Ramayana and Mahabharata epic poems, the Panchatantra and Hitopadesha fable compilations, and the ruler-and-ghoul Vetalapanchavimshati folktales. But still more important than the original sources of Somadeva’s stories was the new, irreverent outlook that he brought to them.

"Born in an era of social disparity, killing and violence ....Lord Mahavira emerged as a reformist, thinker, law-giver and guide....re-defined sanctity and potentialities of individual self - 'jiva' ...in attaining salvation - 'nirvana', by its own doing...the ultimate aim that he set before all 'jivas' was: 'parasparopagraha jeevanam'...Lord Mahavira was the last of the twenty-four 'Thirthankaras' of the concurrent eon...At about 30 years of age, he renounced the world after duly seeking his parents' permission...For over twelve years... he moved from one place to other, moving, knowing and meditating - all in simultaneity...Gautama with his ten Brahmin disciples was the first to convert to Mahavira's path...Mahavira's philosophy has eight principal cardinals...He also talks of Tri-ratnas - three gems, which are both, the means of the above as also their goal..."