Roopa Kudva On Her Favourite Books And Her Take On The Classics

From a Pulitzer winning memoir on the Pentagon Papers and Watergate scandal to the celebration of the railways. From the change in Indian life and society in the last few decades to the importance of keeping an open mind. From living life while facing death to the power of curiosity and passion, and the joy in small things. These books have inspired managing director of Omidyar Network India.

BloombergQuint spoke to Roopa Kudva about her favourite books. Here’s a look at her reading list...

Personal History, By Katharine Graham

This is a Pulitzer Prize winning memoir by Katharine Graham, the woman who led the Washington Post through the Pentagon Papers and Watergate scandal. A candid documentation of her personal evolution and a valuable record of an important period in American history.

“I learnt how a leader can create high impact by surrounding herself with people who have the skills and capabilities she doesn’t, and by supporting them when it matters the most,” Kudva said.

When Breath Becomes Air, By Paul Kalanithi

This is a memoir by Paul Kalnathi on his life, his experiences as a neurosurgeon, and then as a patient facing terminal cancer. Paul died at the age of 37 and the book was published posthumously. “This book teaches us how to live life while facing death,” Kudva said.

Dreamers: How Young Indians Are Changing Their World, By Snigdha Poonam

These are essays which capture the aspirations of young people in north India today. These stories show how the ambitions of young people are being fueled by  connectivity and technological advancements and how much Indian life and society has changed in the last few decades.

“This book showed me the non-trivial challenge of fulfilling the aspirations of a young India, and the urgency we need to bring to finding solutions,” Kudva said.

Pride And Prejudice, By Jane Austen

One of the most loved books in the English language —  its memorable opening line, cast of characters, story line and humour make it an endearing and timeless book. “This book taught me the importance of keeping an open mind,” Kudva said.

My Family And Other Animals, By Gerald Durrell

This is an autobiographical work by British naturalist Gerald Durrell of his childhood years  with his siblings and widowed mother on the Greek island of Corfu in the 1930s.  It describes the life of his eccentric family in a humorous manner, and explores the fauna of the island. It shows the power of curiosity and passion, and the joy in small things.

Behind The Steam, By Bill Morgan And Bette Meyrick

A memoir from the “age of steam” in the railways, this is the story of Bill Morgan who joined the Great Western Railway in Neyland Wales as a cleaner in 1919 and retired 50 years later as an engine driver. It is a celebration of the railways and a way of life that was disrupted by the sweeping changes of the 1960s.