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Autobiography of An Unknown Indian – Book Review

Autobiography of Unknown Indian
4.6/5

This book takes you to a world of at least a hundred years back. Personally, I felt my English improved after this book. 

Written by a self-confessed Anglophile, Autobiography of An Unknown Indian is a witty and endearing account of Nirad C. Chaudhuri’s life. The book delves into the mind of the author as he takes his readers down memory lane to a pre-independence India. Written in a sarcastic manner that takes potshots at both Indian as well as British cultures, this book is one of the early works of Indian literature written in English.

The book offers an authentic peek into the way India functioned during the last days of British rule. It draws various incidents from the author’s life and lets us understand his views on life gained from his different experiences. Born into an educated Bengali household, the author led a life where the majority of his influences were from the western part of the world.

The book starts off with a dedication to the British rule meant in a witty and sarcastic way. However, since the book was published post independence, when nationalist sentiments were at an all-time high, his dedication was misinterpreted and led to a personal ordeal. While his book was praised unanimously in the West, he was awarded with criticism back in India.

Autobiography of An Unknown Indian is the memoir of an ordinary Indian who was well-educated in the British way of life.

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Mayuresh S. Shilotri writes on Product, EdTech, UX, Customer Development & Early Stage Growth. 2,000-Word posts only. You can discover more about me here

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