Hindi literature is known much more for its fictional works than non-fiction. But there have been many legendary non-fictional works in Hindi as well. I have read only very few of them and here are the ones that I loved the most –
शृंखला की कड़ियाँ / Shrinkhala ki Kadiyaan (“The Links in the Chain”)
Author: Mahadevi Verma
Genre: Essays, Feminism
My Favorite Part: The book is to Hindi literary world what Virginia Woolf’s A room of one’s own is to English. It’s a thought-provoking look at the place of women in the Indian society. It was written a century ago but in many aspects, it still describes the truth!
दर्शन दिग्दर्शन / Darshan Digsarshan (“Philosophical Compass”)
Author: Rahul Sankrityayan
Genre: Treatise on the various philosophical schools of thoughts in the ancient world
My Favorite Part: When you read books about history of philosophy, they are biased in favour of western philosophy (ancient Greece for example). But this book lays open eastern philosophy too.
संस्कृति के चार अध्याय / Sanskriti ke chaar Adhyaya (“Four Chapters of Civilization”)
Author: Ramdhari Singh ‘Dinkar’
Genre: History, culture
My Favorite Part: Yes, this book was written with a nationalistic undercurrent but such was the era in the middle of the 20th century India. Despite that, this book is surprisingly objective and a brilliant read about the historical development of Indian culture.
अतीत के चलचित्र / Ateet ke Chalchitra (“Videos from the Past”)
Author: Mahadevi Verma
Genre: Memoirs, sketches
My Favorite Part: Poignant description of people, emotions, and human-relations within Indian society. Only Mahadevi Verma can make non-fiction read like poetry, full of emotions and human spirit!
मानव समाज / Manav Samaj (“Human Society”)
Author: Rahul Sankrityayan
Genre: Treatise on Anthropology
My Favorite Part: The book depicts, in a very engaging way, the evolution of human societies from hunter-gatherers to farmers to industrial workers. If you want to read a fictionalized version of the same evolution, वोल्गा से गंगा / Volga se Ganga (“From Volga to Ganges”) by the same author is a masterpiece!