Reading guides
Seven guides, each meant to be read in one sitting. Start with the language you want to read, or with the practical ones about where to find books and what public domain means in India.
- A beginner's guide to Hindi literature4 min
Where Hindi literature comes from, how its eras fit together, which authors to read first, and how to handle Braj, Awadhi and Khari Boli as a new reader.
- A beginner's guide to Marathi literature4 min
From Dnyaneshwar and Tukaram to Sane Guruji and Pu La Deshpande: how Marathi literature developed, what to read first, and which classics are free in India.
- Premchand: where to start4 min
Which Premchand stories and novels to read first, in what order, in Hindi or in English translation, and why his work is public domain in India.
- Reading the Bhagavad Gita in translation4 min
How to choose a Bhagavad Gita translation in English, Hindi or Marathi: free public-domain versions, well-known modern ones, and how to read the 18 chapters.
- Where to read Indian-language books legally for free5 min
What Wikisource, Project Gutenberg, the Internet Archive, the National Digital Library of India, Hindi Samay, Rekhta and eSahity offer Hindi and Marathi readers.
- Public domain in India, explained4 min
How India's life-plus-60-years copyright rule works for books, how to count it, why translations differ, and how US rules compare. Not legal advice.
- A Diwali reading list4 min
Twelve Hindi, Marathi and English books for the Diwali holidays: Ram's return, stories to read aloud with family, a short play to stage, and the Marathi Diwali ank.