List of Books and Authors in Indian History – Complete Guide for Competitive Exams
Indian history is deeply enriched by a vast literary tradition spanning Ancient, Medieval, and Modern periods. From Sanskrit classics to nationalist writings, these works are crucial for aspirants of UPSC, SSC, NDA, CDS, Railways, and State PCS exams. This comprehensive list presents important books and their authors in a structured, exam-oriented format.
Ancient Indian Books and Authors
Ancient India’s literary heritage reflects developments in philosophy, science, polity, drama, grammar, and religion.
| No. | Book | Author |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Amarkosa | Amarshmha |
| 2 | Panchsidhantika & Brihat Samhita | Varahamihira |
| 3 | Mudrarakshasa | Visakhadatta |
| 4 | Rajtarangini | Kalhana |
| 5 | Natyashastra | Bharata |
| 6 | Abhigyan Shakuntalam, Vikramorvashi, Raghuvamsa | Kalidasa |
| 7 | Kathasaritsagara | Somdeva |
| 8 | Kamasutra | Vatsyayana |
| 9 | Prashnottarmalika | Amoghavarsha |
| 10 | Svapnavasavadattam | Bhasa |
| 11 | Buddhacharita | Ashvaghosha |
| 12 | Surya Siddhanta | Aryabhata |
| 13 | Charaka Samhita | Charaka |
| 14 | Lilavati | Bhaskara II |
| 15 | Harshacharita, Kadambari, Nagananda, Ratnavali | Harshavardhana |
| 16 | Mrichhakatika | Shudraka |
| 17 | Gita Govinda | Jayadeva |
| 18 | Navratna | Virsena |
| 19 | Gathasaptashati | Hala |
| 20 | Nitisara | Kamandaka |
| 21 | Ashtadhyayi | Panini |
| 22 | Mahabhasya | Patanjali |
| 23 | Naishadhacharita | Sri Harsha |
| 24 | Panchatantra | Vishnu Sharma |
| 25 | Aihole Prasasti | Ravikirti |
| 26 | Indica | Megasthenes |
| 27 | Arthashastra | Kautilya |
Medieval Indian Books and Authors
This period provides valuable chronicles of Sultanate, Mughal, Bhakti, and regional kingdoms.
| No. | Book | Author |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Baburnama | Babur |
| 2 | Tuzk-i-Jahangiri | Jahangir |
| 3 | Tarikh-i-Shershahi | Abbas Khan Sarwani |
| 4 | Dayabhaga | Jimutavahana |
| 5 | Periya Puranam | Sekkizhar |
| 6 | Rihla | Ibn Battuta |
| 7 | Shahjahannama | Inayat Khan |
| 8 | History of Aurangzeb | Jadunath Sarkar |
| 9 | Administration of Delhi Sultanate | I H Qureshi |
| 10 | Vikramarjunavijaya | Pampa |
| 11 | Tabaqat-i-Nasiri | Minhaj-i-Siraj |
| 12 | Taj-ul-Maasir | Hasan Nizami |
| 13 | Tarikh-i-Firuzshahi | Ziauddin Barani |
| 14 | Futuh-us-Salatin | Isami |
| 15 | Tarikh-i-Mubarak Shahi | Yahya Sirhindi |
| 16 | Akbarnama | Abul Fazl |
| 17 | Padshahnama | Abdul Hamid Lahori |
| 18 | Muntakhab-al-Tawarikh | Badauni |
| 19 | Humayunama | Gulbadan Begum |
| 20 | Chandayan | Maulana Daud |
| 21 | Tughlaqnama | Amir Khusro |
Modern Indian Books and Authors
Modern writings played a major role in shaping Indian nationalism, social reform, and political thought.
| No. | Book | Author |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gitanjali | Rabindranath Tagore |
| 2 | Satyarth Prakash | Dayanand Saraswati |
| 3 | Economic History of India | Romesh Chunder Dutt |
| 4 | Poverty and Un-British Rule in India | Dadabhai Naoroji |
| 5 | Anandamath | Bankim Chandra Chatterjee |
| 6 | Unhappy India | Lala Lajpat Rai |
| 7 | India for Indians | Chittaranjan Das |
| 8 | The Golden Threshold | Sarojini Naidu |
| 9 | Life Divine | Sri Aurobindo |
| 10 | Hind Swaraj | Mahatma Gandhi |
| 11 | Discovery of India | Jawaharlal Nehru |
| 12 | Gulamgiri | Jyotiba Phule |
| 13 | Neel Darpan | Dinabandhu Mitra |
| 14 | Geeta Rahasya | Bal Gangadhar Tilak |
| 15 | Why I am an Atheist | Bhagat Singh |
| 16 | India Today | Rajani Palme Dutt |
| 17 | The Transfer of Power in India | V P Menon |
| 18 | Indian Struggle | Subhas Chandra Bose |
| 19 | India Divided | Rajendra Prasad |
| 20 | Hindutva | Vinayak Damodar Savarkar |
Importance of These Books for Exams
Why examiners ask questions from this topic:
- Static GK section frequently includes book-author matches
- Helpful in history optional and essay writing
- Useful for interview personality tests
- Important for matching-type MCQs
Quick Revision List (Most Asked Pairs)
- Arthashastra — Kautilya
- Rajtarangini — Kalhana
- Baburnama — Babur
- Akbarnama — Abul Fazl
- Gitanjali — Rabindranath Tagore
- Hind Swaraj — Mahatma Gandhi
- Discovery of India — Jawaharlal Nehru
- Gulamgiri — Jyotiba Phule
- Why I am an Atheist — Bhagat Singh
Conclusion - India’s literary tradition is not just vast but also historically significant. These books provide direct insights into political systems, society, religion, philosophy, and culture across eras. Mastering this list gives candidates a strong edge in competitive examinations and builds deeper historical understanding.
