My booklist in 2024 has been rather heavy on nonfiction. One of the year's most interesting reads was Janaki Bakhle's Savarkar and the Making of Hindutva (Princeton University Press). Critically examining the 'Father of Hindutva', Bakhle marshals not just his well-analysed books but also his scattered Marathi journalism and poetry to better make sense of the man and his worldview. Mukund Padmanabhan's The Great Flap of 1942 (Vintage) is a short, delightful microhistory, written with great charm and telling a little-known story—I learnt a good deal, and with many chuckles along the way. Another source of pure joy was Anusha Rao and Suhas Mahesh's How to Love in Sanskrit (Harper Perennial)—a translation of Sanskrit poetry, full of beauty, humour, and occasional irreverence even. Many might imagine they 'know' what Sanskrit poetry is 'like'; this book challenges such preconceptions. A book that left a mark is Santa Khurai's The Yellow Sparrow (Speaking Tiger), translated from Manipuri by Rubani Yumkhaibam. It is a straightforward, simple translation, but tells an important story—of queerness and a queer life rooted in Manipur as a region and culture. I found it instructive and deserving of wider attention. Ira Mukhoty's The Lion and the Lily (Aleph) marries her elegant writing with strong historical research, telling the story of Awadh, its nawabs and begums, and their dealings with a variety of Indian and European political players. It is a triumph and leaves one excited for Ira's next project on the French in India. William Dalrymple's The Golden Road (Bloomsbury), a history of the 'Indosphere' and its appeal in ancient times, must also feature here. A work of rich accomplishment, in many ways, it is unlike Dalrymple's previous books. But he pulls it off with style. In terms of fiction, I have lagged this year. One entertaining read was Rohan Monteiro's Shadows Rising (Westland), which draws inspiration from mythology to tell a fabulously fun story. I read the book in two sittings, and it offered much-needed reprieve from the dull, plodding work I was then engaged in. As my final recommendation, I will mention Srikar Raghavan's study of the culture and intellectual and social history of modern Karnataka, Rama Bhima Soma (Westland). I read the book in manuscript form, and it will be in stores this month. Packed with insights—and at times a demanding read even—it is a solid debut.

Ira Mukhoty

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