Anandamath

Anandamath is Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay’s most famous novel and one of the foundation texts of Indian nationalism. It is set against a real eighteenth century revolt in Bengal and centres on a band of ascetic warriors fighting for the motherland. The song Bande Mataram, later India’s national song, comes from this novel.

The book is short and dramatic. Modern readers will find some of its politics complicated, but its literary and historical importance is hard to overstate.