I am just like you , I read anything I can find about India, especially books by Indian authors. I think is important to get a feel of the Country you are visiting.
Last year I tried to start a thread on good books about india , fact and fiction, but no-one was interested
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Why dont more people take some time to do some research on the people and cultures of the Country they are visiting?
ps, If you havent already read it--- Being Indian by Pavan K Varma is a good read.
And I always pick up a copy of Femina mag the indian eqivalent of In-Style