The Incredible Indians: Inspiring Young Minds Through Real Stories
Acclaimed author and global policy thinker Rajesh Talwar returns with his latest book, The Incredible Indians: The First Eleven (Ponytale), shortly after being honoured at the India–UK Achievers Awards 2026 at the British Parliament. The book is an engaging and inspiring work for young readers that brings to life the journeys of eleven iconic Indians through a dramatic and accessible storytelling style. Blending history, personal struggles, and powerful narratives, it introduces children to personalities such as APJ Abdul Kalam, Dr B.R. Ambedkar, MS Dhoni, Amitabh Bachchan, Asha Bhosle, and Ratan Tata in a way that feels relatable, relevant, and contemporary.
In 2025, Talwar was also honoured with the prestigious International Alumni Laureate Award from the University of Nottingham, further recognising his contributions to literature, public thought, and social awareness. With The Incredible Indians, he continues his commitment to creating meaningful and engaging literature for young readers.
Unlike traditional fact-heavy biographies, the book focuses on the personal journeys, challenges, and aspirations of these national icons, making them both inspiring and accessible to children. Presented through an engaging play format featuring present-day schoolchildren, the book also encourages values of empathy, leadership, national integration, and social awareness.
The Incredible Indians: The First Eleven releases on 15 June 2026.
About the book
In this engaging children’s play, eleven incredible and iconic Indians are brought to life through the eyes of The Creative Five, a group of schoolchildren working on a class project. Rather than listing facts, the children dramatize the struggles and challenges these figures faced at different stages of their lives.
Readers will see Dr. B.R. Ambedkar confronting discrimination in childhood, M.S. Dhoni overcoming obstacles in his youth, and Field Marshal Manekshaw and Prime Minister Indira Gandhi navigated challenges as mature leaders.
They will discover how Mohammad Rafi’s childhood shaped him into one of India’s greatest singers, and how Ratan Tata’s humanism and generosity defined one of the country’s richest industrialists. The childhood of legendary singer Asha Bhosle is explored alongside that of President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, including a scene on the happiest day of his life.
The collection also honours Mahatma Gandhi, Subhash Chandra Bose, and Babasaheb Ambedkar, who contributed to the freedom struggle, as well as Amitabh Bachchan and Asha Bhosle, who continue to inspire today. Together, these stories show how each of the eleven icons helped build the nation and left a lasting legacy.
About the author
Rajesh Talwar is an internationally acclaimed and award-winning author whose literary work spans 45 books across fiction, non-fiction, plays, children’s literature, and self-help. His writing explores a wide range of themes including social justice, law, culture, human rights, terrorism, aesthetics, and the complexities of Indian society and the legal system. His plays move from contemporary socio-political realities to historical retellings, while his novels delve into subjects as diverse as identity, conflict, and justice.
Among his notable non-fiction works are Courting Injustice: The Nirbhaya Case and Its Aftermath (Hay House, 2013) and The Mahatma’s Manifesto: A Critique of Hind Swaraj (Om Books International, 2025). His well-known children’s books include The Bearded Prince, The Three Greens, and The Boy Who Wrote a Constitution. His recently released title, Bollywood, Hollywood and the Future of World Cinema, examines the evolving intersections of global cinema and cultural storytelling.
Beyond literature, Talwar served in senior positions with the United Nations across three continents over two decades. He has studied at prestigious institutions including Harvard, Cambridge, Oxford, the University of Nottingham, and Hindu College, Delhi University. He also trained in filmmaking at the London Film Academy and is currently co-directing an AI-generated animated feature film, Smoky Sky Songs.
Recently, he was honoured with the India–UK Achievers Award 2026 at the British Parliament and received the International Alumni Laureate Award from the University of Nottingham for his contributions to literature, public policy, and social issues.
