The Great Indian Novel by Shashi Tharoor (1993, Paperback, Reprint)

Probably one of the best Indian novels to be written in English, Tharoor recasts the ancient saga of the Mahabharata in a modern time. His observations are acute, his wit is acidic, and his humor is dead-on. The book is a fantastic read as a piece of fiction, but the layers of social, religious, and political commentary buried within make it even more interesting. It's has a charm that appeals to the cynic as well as the adrent patriot and it's paints a wonderful backdrop to India's coming of age in this era.