Jul 20, 2025

Top 8 Regional Literature Books You Need To Read Right Now

Aanya Mehta

Poonachi by Perumul Murugan

A deeply moving allegory told through the eyes of a black goat. Explores freedom, survival, and rural Tamil life with quiet brilliance.

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The Hour Past midnight by Salma

Set in a conservative Muslim household, this novel dives into female desire, repression, and rebellion. Translated from Tamil, it’s gripping and introspective.

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Six Acres and A Third by Fakir Mohan Senapati

A biting satire on colonial land exploitation and greed in 19th-century Odisha. This novel is often called India’s first modern realist novel.

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Chemmeen by Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai

A tragic romance set in a coastal fishing village where love defies caste and custom. Its lyrical storytelling has haunted readers for decades.

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So Many Hungers by Bhabani Bhattacharya

A moving tale set during the Bengal famine and the Quit India movement. It’s fiction rooted in real socio political horror, showing Bengal’s past with sharp clarity.

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The Man-Eater of Malgudi by RK Narayan

The Man-Eater of Malgudi by R.K. Narayan is a witty allegorical novel about a mild mannered printer whose peaceful life is upended by a destructive house guest. It’s a humorous yet sharp tale of good versus evil, set in the fictional South Indian town of Malgudi.

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The Saga of Muziris by Sethu

Saga of Muziris by Sethu is a historical novel that revives the lost glory of Muziris, the ancient port town in Kerala, once a major hub for Roman and Arabian trade. Through a mix of fiction and historical fact, it explores maritime culture, spice trade, and cultural confluence along the Malabar Coast.

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The Black Hill by Mamang Dai

Set in 19th century Arunachal Pradesh, this novel explores a forgotten missionary story and tribal resistance.

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