I picked up a copy of Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts by chance at Glasgow Airport (it just happened to be the book they were promoting at the time), just before catching a flight to India for six weeks. It turned out to be one of the best travel decisions I’ve ever made.
Reading Shantaram prepared me for visiting India in a way no amount of travel blog research ever could. From understanding the famous Indian head waggle to gaining insight into the country’s astonishing diversity—where hundreds of languages, religions, and cultures coexist—this novel gave me a deeper appreciation for India before I even landed. More than just a gripping story, Shantaram helped me approach my travels with greater cultural awareness, empathy, and curiosity.
If you’re planning a trip to India, I highly recommend reading Shantaram before you go. It’s a captivating introduction to the vibrant chaos, warmth, and complexity of a country with over a billion people—and it might just change the way you experience your journey.
What is the novel Shantaram about?
Shantaram is one of the most original books I’ve ever read—made all the more extraordinary by the fact that it’s based on the real-life experiences of its author, Gregory David Roberts (with some creative license thrown in!).
Set in the early 80s, the novel follows Lin, a convicted criminal who escapes from prison in Australia and flees to Mumbai. With a false passport, little money, and no clear plan, he is thrust into the heart of the city’s chaotic underworld. As he navigates the bustling streets and hidden alleyways, Lin finds himself drawn into an intoxicating world of gangsters, slum-dwellers, philosophers, and exiles—each with their own stories of survival and reinvention.
What’s so inspiring about the novel Shantaram?
Living in the Bombay slum, Lin builds a new life for himself, learning the local language Marathi and forging deep friendships with those on the margins of society. He sets up a free health clinic, dedicating his time selflessly to those around him. But his past is never far behind. As he becomes entangled in the city’s criminal networks, from passport forgery to arms smuggling, his quest for freedom turns into something far more complex: a search for meaning, belonging, and redemption in a place that offers both danger and salvation in equal measure.
Blending thrilling adventure with profound philosophical musings, Shantaram is a novel about exile, identity, and the many lives we live—whether by choice or by fate. It is a love letter to Mumbai in all its contradictions: its beauty and brutality, its warmth and lawlessness, its power to break and rebuild a person entirely. Be careful—this novel will inspire you. But it will also break your heart.
Thinking of Visiting India?
Read my posts about visiting India here.
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