Fatherhood (or parenthood, if you want to read through the lens of gender fluidity in this matter) is rarely a straight line. It is not a straight, simple mould, nor is it always perfect. Sometimes, it is found in the quiet spaces between the pages of a book, in the agonising ache of an empty chair, or in the brave choice to walk an untrodden path alone. Cue in “Papa kehte hai…bada kaam karega!”
This Father’s Day, we step away from the polished cliches and dig into the rawness of what it truly means to love, lose, and honour a father. Through the hand-picked selection of eight extraordinary books, we uncover the universal truth: a father’s love shapes our world long after the chapters of the book have closed.
1. Looking for the Rainbow: My Years with Daddy by Ruskin Bond
Imagine an eight-year-old boy escaping the cold, prison-like walls of a mountain boarding school, running straight into the warm, waiting arms of his father in Delhi. For Ruskin Bond, that brief period was a sunlit dream filled with long walks, endless books, old cinema halls, and deep conversations. It was a perfect world—until it was tragically cut short. Written with extraordinary charm and a pinch of poignance, Bond’s memoir reminds us that sometimes, we only get a few precious years with our fathers, but the warmth of their love can light up the rest of our lives.
Book Link – https://www.amazon.in/Looking-Rainbow-Ruskin-Bond/dp/0143441078
2. My Father Is in the Indian Army by Mamta Nainy & Arthy Muthanna Singh
For a child, a father is a protector, a playmate, a hero. But what happens when that hero belongs to the entire nation? Little Beena knows her dad’s job in the Indian Army is vital, but as her birthday approaches, her heart makes a simple, aching wish: Please, just be home to celebrate with me. This beautifully illustrated book captures the quiet sacrifices of military families, exploring the profound longing of children who learn to share their fathers with the country, anchored by the hope of a joyful return.
Book Link – https://www.penguin.co.in/book/my-father-is-in-the-indian-army-2/
3. You Are the Best Father by Riya Nandagawali
Some griefs alter our DNA, and losing a father to a global pandemic is one of them. In this deeply moving true story, Riya Nandagawali immortalises her parents, Mejar and Varsha, who stood as pillars of strength for their family. Though the virus stole her father away, it could not touch the legacy of resilience he left behind. This book is a tear-stained, beautiful promise kept by a daughter—a testament to the fact that a father’s lessons give us the strength to live on, even when his voice is gone.
Book Link – https://www.amazon.in/You-Best-Father-Riya-Nandagawali/dp/9355221711
4. Bachelor Dad: My Journey to Fatherhood and More by Tusshar Kapoor
What does it mean to want to be a father so badly that you defy societal norms to make it happen? Tusshar Kapoor was a financial analyst in the US, far from the Bollywood spotlight, before returning to India. But his true life-altering moment didn’t happen on a movie set; it happened on a solitary car journey when he decided to become India’s first celebrity single father through surrogacy. Written with frank, no-holds-barred honesty, this is a modern story of unconditional love, proving that a man’s instinct to nurture and protect is just as fierce, beautiful, and complete in its own right.
Book Link – https://www.amazon.in/Bachelor-Dad-Journey-Fatherhood-More/dp/0143452894/
5. Dreams from My Father (Adapted for Young Adults) by Barack Obama
To some, a father is a constant presence; to a young Barack Obama, his Kenyan father was more of a myth than a man. Raised by his white mother and grandparents, Obama’s journey of self-discovery took him from Hawaii to Indonesia, New York, and eventually to the red dust of Kenya. In searching for the complicated truth of his absent father’s life and legacy, he discovered his own roots. It is a powerful reminder that our fathers shape us not just by who they were, but by the questions they leave behind for us to answer.
Book Link – https://www.amazon.in/Dreams-Father-Adapted-Young-Adults/dp/1838857206/
6. Things My Son Needs to Know about the World by Fredrik Backman
Fatherhood isn’t just about profound wisdom; it is also about sleep deprivation, midlife crises, and figuring out how to handle a diaper blowout. With his trademark wit and deep human insight, Fredrik Backman writes a love letter to his newborn son. He candidly shares his own flaws, his stumbles, and the overwhelming awe of holding a tiny hand just a little too tight. It is a hilarious, fiercely tender look at a father who realises that while he is supposed to be teaching his son about the world, his son is actually teaching him how to love unconditionally.
Book Link – https://www.amazon.in/Things-Needs-Know-about-World/dp/1501196863
7. The Reading Promise by Alice Ozma
When Alice was nine, she and her father, who was a school librarian, made a pact: to read aloud together for 100 consecutive nights. When they hit the goal, neither wanted the magic to end. That pact turned into “The Streak”—a ritual that lasted an astonishing eight years, without missing a single night, until the very day she left for college. Through Shakespeare, Dickens, and Rowling, her father gave her a steadying hand. This memoir is a heartbreakingly beautiful tribute to the unbreakable bond created when a parent simply shows up, night after night, to share their voice.
Book Link – https://www.amazon.in/READING-PROMISE-Alice-Ozma/dp/1444715267
8. Dear Father by Bhabendranath Saikia
Originally woven in Asamiya, this poignant tale reminds us that fatherly love doesn’t always wear a soft smile; sometimes it wears the anxious, protective frown of a parent pushed to the brink. When Bipul, a rebellious teenager, is mysteriously beaten up by unknown assailants, a gripping mystery unfolds. Beneath the suspense lies a raw, deeply relatable exploration of family dynamics, teenage rebellion, and the lengths to which a father will go to understand, protect, and guide a son who is slipping away.
Book Link: https://www.nbtindia.gov.in/books_detail__10__nehru-bal-pustakalaya__971__dear-father.nbt
This Father’s Day, how will you remember your dad?
Whether your father is a phone call away, a memory in your heart, or a quiet force who showed his love through actions rather than words—take a moment to honour the role he played in your life. Pick up a book, share a memory, and celebrate the beautiful blueprint of the men who made us who we are.