Autobiographical books of famous personalities in India

Nothing can be more appealing to a reader than savoring the life experiences of others. It adds to their joy if the story is about the personal life of a famous celebrity, that too, in his own voice. Reading an autobiography is fun because it feels like the person is recounting incidents straight out of their daily life. Such books contain soul as they remember the personal struggles faced by a person of distinction.

Personal writings contain honest accounts of real events that are found to be trustworthy and believable by readers. They always listen attentively to eminent personalities who have set great examples of achievement and idealism. They try to connect with readers on a personal level as stories of wisdom flow through their pens.

Here are some autobiographical books of the rulers who have contributed substantially to shaping modern India.

The Discovery of India by Jawaharlal Nehru – One of the favorites, this book is special as it was written by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru himself while he was being held at Ahmednagar fort in the state of Maharashtra. Through his autobiography, he pays homage to the cultural heritage of our country as well as to its history and philosophy as a freedom fighter. The edition is one of the finest modern contributions to modern history. It contains personal essays and deep prose woven around historical facts. Dedication to the prisoners of the prison, the book is a mixture of art, religion, science, philosophy, economy and social movement.

Wings of Fire by APJ Abdul Kalam – This is an extraordinary account of the life of a visionary who led a simple but uncommon life. It is a story of self-confidence and courage that will seduce you. It is the journey of a boy born into a family of less educated boat owners and transformed into one of the leading scientists at the helm of India’s missile development program.

Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramhansa Yogananda – The book introduces readers to a spiritual guru who becomes a monk to establish the teachings of meditation. The masterpiece looks at how to achieve God-realization. It explores Yogananda’s spiritual adventures, from his search for a guru to his encounters with Mahatma Gandhi, Ananda Moyi Ma, CV Raman and Rabindranath Tagore.

I too had a dream by Verghese Kurien – It opens with Dr. Kurien’s background to reveal how a quaint little town became the milk capital of our country. He builds his turbulent life story on the circumstances that sent him to Anand. The book explains how the cooperative model is replicated for the dairy sector and how a community organization is able to sustain itself by overcoming social, political, economic and organizational obstacles.

The Story of My Experiences with Truth by Mahatma Gandhi – Mahatma Gandhi covers his entire journey from infancy to 1921. This is a spiritual book of a lifetime as it explores truth through the perspective of an individual. It includes accounts of moral and spiritual experiences. Gandhiji recalls his childhood experiences. On his way of defining his personal philosophy, he shows how Gandhiji relied on sacred texts as well as individual interactions with people.