The Discovery of India

The Discovery of India has has taken the status of a classical history since it was first published in 1946, written over 5 months when Jawaharlal Nehru was imprisoned in the Ahmadnagar fort,India.
In this work of prodigious scope and scholarship, one of the greatest figures of indian history who unfolds the panorama of the country's rich and complex past, from prehistory to the last years of british colonial rule. Analysing texts like the vedas and the arthashastra, and personalities like the buddha and mahatma gandhi, nehru brings alive an ancient culture that has seen the flowering of the world's great traditions of philosophy, science and art, and almost all its major religions.
The book gives us “an understanding of the glorious intellectual and spiritual tradition of (a) great country.” -Albert Einstein
Nehru's brilliant intellect, deep humanity and lucid style make the discovery of india essential reading for anyone interested in india, both its past and its present.
Ignore the political affiliation of this book. The discovery of india is excellent book to know the history of india i.e. India's national personality. You will need real efforts (no procrastination) to read this book. 'Bharat ek khoj', a 53 episode indian television series is based on this book. Author wrote this book in ahmednagar fort prison during the five months, April to Sep. 1944 (MCMXLIV).