📚 Chapter 07 · Topic 02 · Books & Authors

Books by Indian PMs & Presidents

Important books written by Indian Prime Ministers and Presidents — Nehru, Kalam, Radhakrishnan, Pranab Mukherjee, Modi.

📖 Books by Prime Ministers

PM	Book	Key Content
Jawaharlal Nehru	The Discovery of India; Glimpses of World History; An Autobiography	India’s history; world history (letters to Indira); personal memoir — all written in prison
Indira Gandhi	My Truth; Letters to an American Friend	Political philosophy; personal reflections on governance
Rajiv Gandhi	India: The Future is Now	Vision for India’s technological and economic development
Atal Bihari Vajpayee	Meri Ekyavan Kavitayen; Shakti se Shanti; Meri Ikyavan Kavitayen	Poetry collection; political writings; reflections on peace
Manmohan Singh	India’s Export Trends and Prospects for Self-Sustained Growth	Economic analysis — his doctoral thesis at Oxford (1962)
Narendra Modi	Exam Warriors; Convenient Action; Jyotipunj; Aankh Aa Dhanya Chhe	Advice for students; climate change; biographies of RSS workers; Gujarati poetry
P.V. Narasimha Rao	The Insider	Semi-autobiographical novel about Indian politics
I.K. Gujral	A Foreign Policy for India	India’s foreign policy — the “Gujral Doctrine”

📖 Books by Presidents

President	Book	Key Content
S. Radhakrishnan	Indian Philosophy (2 vols); The Hindu View of Life; Eastern Religions and Western Thought; The Philosophy of Rabindranath Tagore	Comparative philosophy; Hindu philosophy; spirituality
Rajendra Prasad	India Divided; Autobiography; Satyagraha in Champaran	Against partition; personal memoir; Champaran movement
Zakir Husain	Various works on education and Islamic philosophy	Education reform; Islamic thought
A.P.J. Abdul Kalam	Wings of Fire (autobiography); India 2020; Ignited Minds; The Luminous Sparks; Turning Points; Transcendence	Autobiography; vision for India; inspiring youth; spiritual reflections
Pranab Mukherjee	The Dramatic Decade; The Turbulent Years; The Coalition Years; The Presidential Years	Political memoirs covering different phases of Indian politics
K.R. Narayanan	India and America: Essays in Understanding	India-US relations; foreign policy

⭐ A.P.J. Abdul Kalam — Wings of Fire: “Wings of Fire” is the autobiography of A.P.J. Abdul Kalam (1931–2015), India’s 11th President and the “Missile Man of India.” Written with Arun Tiwari, it describes his journey from a humble background in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu to becoming India’s leading aerospace scientist. The book covers his work on India’s missile programme (Agni, Prithvi) and the PSLV. It is one of the most widely read autobiographies in India and has inspired millions of young people. Kalam received the Bharat Ratna in 1997.

📌 S. Radhakrishnan — Teacher’s Day: Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan (1888–1975) was India’s first Vice-President (1952–1962) and second President (1962–1967). He was a distinguished philosopher and scholar of comparative religion. His birthday, 5 September, is celebrated as Teachers’ Day in India. He received the Bharat Ratna in 1954 — one of the first three recipients. His books on Indian philosophy are considered classics in the field.

✅ Revision Checklist

✅ Nehru = Discovery of India + Glimpses of World History + Autobiography = all written in prison
✅ Vajpayee = Meri Ekyavan Kavitayen = poetry collection
✅ Manmohan Singh = India’s Export Trends = doctoral thesis at Oxford (1962)
✅ Modi = Exam Warriors + Convenient Action + Jyotipunj
✅ P.V. Narasimha Rao = The Insider = semi-autobiographical novel
✅ Radhakrishnan = Indian Philosophy + The Hindu View of Life = philosopher-president
✅ Rajendra Prasad = India Divided + Autobiography
✅ Kalam = Wings of Fire (autobiography) + India 2020 + Ignited Minds
✅ Pranab Mukherjee = The Dramatic Decade + The Turbulent Years + The Coalition Years