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Indian Ghost Stories
I do not know whether writing ghost stories is a mistake. Most readers will like a ghost story in which towards the end it is found that the ghost was really a cat or a dog or a mischievous boy. Such ghost stories are a source of pleasure, and are read as a pastime and are often vastly enjoyed, because though the reader is a bit afraid of what he does not know, still he likes to be assured that ghosts do not in reality exist.
76 pages, Paperback
First published December 17, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
October 7, 2025
I’m finished with what I’m going to read here. I had hoped these would be stories of Indians but most were Colonial British people being scared to death by transparent floating beings trespassing in their bedrooms late at night. Fortunately, most of the houses were gigantic, allowing the residents to nail doors shut and occupy other rooms and other wings. The book starts with a Hohenzollern ghost having absolutely no connection to India. Unsatisfactory.
July 1, 2017
Truth is stranger than fiction.
However, it does not apply to this book.
I have found this book on Juggernaut under the title Famous Indian Ghost Stories. I had my fair share of paranormal activities (be it a planchit (a sasta Ouija board trick) in the hostel or the legend of Mahalaxmi's (or even called Gauri in some parts of Maharashtra) feast.) That is why I was keen on reading real paranormal stories. Initially, I was captivated by the title and the era in which the book was published. It was published in 1913 and in the era of the British India.
As per the author's claim, all the stories are real and are experienced by either author himself or someone the author had interacted or even read in the newspapers or magazines. Some stories were good while some were okay and author could have avoided them entirely in the collection. My favorite story was the Haunted House in Benaras where the author was able to invoke a cozy feeling by describing the locality of the house. Moreover, the haunting happens during a wedding week and hence it was quite interesting that multiple people had experienced paranormal activities at the same time.
I also liked the chilling story of Hasan Khan who was a black magician and could move things when he was pissed. (I know that it is telekinesis but writing and reading about it in 1913 must have been a spine-chilling experience.) Moreover, I had found the story of curse of a Fakir, really weird because the curse could not let a man eat and it made him a completely crazy and pathetic soul.
The author was able to cover most of the paranormal topics like apparitions, haunted places, spirits, telepathic suicides, possessions, planchit and black magic.
However, none of them was really scary. Additionally, none of the ghosts were sinister. All of them seems to be imported directly from a Doordarshan TV serial Aap Beeti.
Most of the incidences were narrated by people who were either alive or/and sane. Perhaps I feel that the scariest paranormal experiences are observed by a few people who are neither.
However, it does not apply to this book.
I have found this book on Juggernaut under the title Famous Indian Ghost Stories. I had my fair share of paranormal activities (be it a planchit (a sasta Ouija board trick) in the hostel or the legend of Mahalaxmi's (or even called Gauri in some parts of Maharashtra) feast.) That is why I was keen on reading real paranormal stories. Initially, I was captivated by the title and the era in which the book was published. It was published in 1913 and in the era of the British India.
As per the author's claim, all the stories are real and are experienced by either author himself or someone the author had interacted or even read in the newspapers or magazines. Some stories were good while some were okay and author could have avoided them entirely in the collection. My favorite story was the Haunted House in Benaras where the author was able to invoke a cozy feeling by describing the locality of the house. Moreover, the haunting happens during a wedding week and hence it was quite interesting that multiple people had experienced paranormal activities at the same time.
I also liked the chilling story of Hasan Khan who was a black magician and could move things when he was pissed. (I know that it is telekinesis but writing and reading about it in 1913 must have been a spine-chilling experience.) Moreover, I had found the story of curse of a Fakir, really weird because the curse could not let a man eat and it made him a completely crazy and pathetic soul.
The author was able to cover most of the paranormal topics like apparitions, haunted places, spirits, telepathic suicides, possessions, planchit and black magic.
However, none of them was really scary. Additionally, none of the ghosts were sinister. All of them seems to be imported directly from a Doordarshan TV serial Aap Beeti.
Most of the incidences were narrated by people who were either alive or/and sane. Perhaps I feel that the scariest paranormal experiences are observed by a few people who are neither.
September 20, 2018
S Mukherji’s Famous Indian Ghost Stories (the name under which this book is available on the Juggernaut app) is ostensibly a collection of twelve stories about the supernatural. In reality, these aren’t strictly twelve stories.
Firstly, they are supposedly true stories, and not meant to be fictitious (since the author clearly mentions that so-and-so anecdote came to him by way of this gentleman or that, the veracity of each story may be questioned). Secondly, these aren’t just twelve anecdotes, but more—since the author begins a story with an anecdote, finishes it, and then goes on to related anecdotes. For instance, the last story in the collection, The Messenger of Death, begins with a very brief comment about the Mr Stead who, before boarding the ill-fated but ‘unsinkable’ Titanic, seemed to have a strong premonition that he would not return to England. But The Messenger of Death does not stop there; Stead’s case reminds the author of another incident where a house received a warning from beyond the grave about an impending death. And another anecdote, and another… All about premonitions of death, harbingers of death, and so on. Related, but not a single story.
The other eleven stories, each a collection of anecdotes like this one, follow a similar pattern. One motif starts the ‘story’, other similar motifs follow it. There’s possession by a spirit that only wants its tomb or other resting place to be looked after; there’s the mysterious and malevolent ‘thing’, the very sight of which either kills its sole witness or drives them out of their wits. There are supposedly supernatural phenomena which turn out to have mundane and thoroughly prosaic explanations. There are fakirs with powers to inflict maddening curses or work magic with completely inanimate things.
For anybody who’s lived in India long enough and listened to folk tales and folklore, there will be plenty of familiar-sounding stories here. I found myself nodding at several of them, because this was stuff I had heard recounted, too, by parents and grandparents. Entertaining, sometimes intriguing, but if you’re looking for something really chilling, this isn’t it. Mukherji doesn’t seem to have been aiming to frighten, merely to entertain—which he does succeed in doing.
Firstly, they are supposedly true stories, and not meant to be fictitious (since the author clearly mentions that so-and-so anecdote came to him by way of this gentleman or that, the veracity of each story may be questioned). Secondly, these aren’t just twelve anecdotes, but more—since the author begins a story with an anecdote, finishes it, and then goes on to related anecdotes. For instance, the last story in the collection, The Messenger of Death, begins with a very brief comment about the Mr Stead who, before boarding the ill-fated but ‘unsinkable’ Titanic, seemed to have a strong premonition that he would not return to England. But The Messenger of Death does not stop there; Stead’s case reminds the author of another incident where a house received a warning from beyond the grave about an impending death. And another anecdote, and another… All about premonitions of death, harbingers of death, and so on. Related, but not a single story.
The other eleven stories, each a collection of anecdotes like this one, follow a similar pattern. One motif starts the ‘story’, other similar motifs follow it. There’s possession by a spirit that only wants its tomb or other resting place to be looked after; there’s the mysterious and malevolent ‘thing’, the very sight of which either kills its sole witness or drives them out of their wits. There are supposedly supernatural phenomena which turn out to have mundane and thoroughly prosaic explanations. There are fakirs with powers to inflict maddening curses or work magic with completely inanimate things.
For anybody who’s lived in India long enough and listened to folk tales and folklore, there will be plenty of familiar-sounding stories here. I found myself nodding at several of them, because this was stuff I had heard recounted, too, by parents and grandparents. Entertaining, sometimes intriguing, but if you’re looking for something really chilling, this isn’t it. Mukherji doesn’t seem to have been aiming to frighten, merely to entertain—which he does succeed in doing.
February 14, 2013
the first ever book of ghost stories with a indian flavour. I think we need to distinguish this from other collections. this was never meant to be a piece of literature, but the author's primary objective was to collect tales he had heard to be "true". Actually as a part of my research during writing my own book of ghost stories from India, this was a great find because its so distinctly Indian. Worth a read
January 20, 2018
"A quick and short read that should appeal to fans interested in the occult world and who most certainly enjoy ghost stories."
A few stories scared the daylight's out of me !
A few stories scared the daylight's out of me !
January 31, 2023
The way he writes about ghosts is great and neutral on their existence. Sceptics and believers should read this once to get a feel of what ghost stories used to be like back then. Plus, you can get an ebook copy of this for free on Project Gutenberg, so no harm other than putting in the time.
August 14, 2024
3.33⭐
Preface to the First Edition ✔
Preface to the Second Edition ✔
Wilhelm II and The White Lady of the Hohenzollerns by Katharine Cox 4⭐
The Legend of the "The White Lady" of the Hohenzollerns Castle in Germany is traced back as far as the Fourteenth Century and states that when she is seen walking around on the ramparts of the castle wearing a long white veil, with a cluster of roses upon her shoulder, and carrying in her hands a large bunch of keys that this is supposed to herald some disaster to the Hohenzollern famiy.
His Dead Wife's Photograph 3 ⭐
The Major's Lease 3.25⭐
The Open Door 2.5⭐
What Uncle Saw 3⭐
The Boy Who Was Caught 3.5⭐
The Starving Millionaire 4⭐
The Bridal Party 4⭐
A Strange Incident 4⭐
What the Professor Saw 3.5⭐
The Boy Possessed 3⭐
The Examination Paper 2.5⭐
The Messenger of Death 3⭐
Preface to the First Edition ✔
Preface to the Second Edition ✔
Wilhelm II and The White Lady of the Hohenzollerns by Katharine Cox 4⭐
The Legend of the "The White Lady" of the Hohenzollerns Castle in Germany is traced back as far as the Fourteenth Century and states that when she is seen walking around on the ramparts of the castle wearing a long white veil, with a cluster of roses upon her shoulder, and carrying in her hands a large bunch of keys that this is supposed to herald some disaster to the Hohenzollern famiy.
His Dead Wife's Photograph 3 ⭐
The Major's Lease 3.25⭐
The Open Door 2.5⭐
What Uncle Saw 3⭐
The Boy Who Was Caught 3.5⭐
The Starving Millionaire 4⭐
The Bridal Party 4⭐
A Strange Incident 4⭐
What the Professor Saw 3.5⭐
The Boy Possessed 3⭐
The Examination Paper 2.5⭐
The Messenger of Death 3⭐
March 2, 2025
الصراحة الترجمة كانت عائق طول وقت القراية، مش قادرة أحدد مشكلتي معاها ايه بالظبط، بس مكنتش قادرة أندمج مع العمل أوقات كتير بسببها.
استمتعت بالكتاب عشان عمري ما قريت قصص عن الأشباح حصلت ف الهند، وعشان أنا بحب حقيقي الهند وثقافتهم ف كنت مستمتعة بكل تفاصيل الحكايات بجد.
أكتر حاجة كانت مزعجة مع الترجمة عشوائية الكتاب. حقيقي مكنتش فاهمة ليه مقسمين الكتاب فصول ومع ذلك بنحط قصص بعد ما تكون القصة اللي باسم الفصل خلصت، أوقات القصص كانت بتبقي شبه بعض وأوقات لا خالص. حاجة تانية أوقات مين اللي بيحكي، الكاتب بيحكي، ولا الكاتب بيحكي عن حد، ولا المترجم في التعليقات بيعلق على الكاتب ولا الكاتب هو اللي قال التعليق علي صاحب القصة، الموضوع كان ملخبط حقيقي.
بردو من الاسم كنت متوقعة القصص تبقي مرعبة أكتر بكتير، بس الحقيقة إن في قصص كتير هي آه ممكن تتوصف إنها غامضة ومش مفهومة، بس محسيتهاش مرعبة بأي شكل، وده أحبطني شوية وسط القراية أوقات، لكن مقدرش أنكر إن حتي مع ده في قصص حقيقي كانت ممتعة جدا حتي لو مش مرعبة!
عامة تجربة القراية كانت لطيفة، بس أتمنى ألاقي قصص رعب من الهند تكون مكتوبة بشكل أجمل ومرعبة أكتر من كده.
استمتعت بالكتاب عشان عمري ما قريت قصص عن الأشباح حصلت ف الهند، وعشان أنا بحب حقيقي الهند وثقافتهم ف كنت مستمتعة بكل تفاصيل الحكايات بجد.
أكتر حاجة كانت مزعجة مع الترجمة عشوائية الكتاب. حقيقي مكنتش فاهمة ليه مقسمين الكتاب فصول ومع ذلك بنحط قصص بعد ما تكون القصة اللي باسم الفصل خلصت، أوقات القصص كانت بتبقي شبه بعض وأوقات لا خالص. حاجة تانية أوقات مين اللي بيحكي، الكاتب بيحكي، ولا الكاتب بيحكي عن حد، ولا المترجم في التعليقات بيعلق على الكاتب ولا الكاتب هو اللي قال التعليق علي صاحب القصة، الموضوع كان ملخبط حقيقي.
بردو من الاسم كنت متوقعة القصص تبقي مرعبة أكتر بكتير، بس الحقيقة إن في قصص كتير هي آه ممكن تتوصف إنها غامضة ومش مفهومة، بس محسيتهاش مرعبة بأي شكل، وده أحبطني شوية وسط القراية أوقات، لكن مقدرش أنكر إن حتي مع ده في قصص حقيقي كانت ممتعة جدا حتي لو مش مرعبة!
عامة تجربة القراية كانت لطيفة، بس أتمنى ألاقي قصص رعب من الهند تكون مكتوبة بشكل أجمل ومرعبة أكتر من كده.
February 16, 2019
An excellent read and amust read.
August 9, 2022
Stories we have grown up with, seen in Hindi n bangla movies, and read about. All in one place
December 8, 2022
Nice little collection of ghost stories.
A classic from the archives of Project Gutenberg.
A classic from the archives of Project Gutenberg.
November 28, 2025
A dreadfully dull and unremarkable read. It's filled with entirely "true" stories where it's just white British men getting spooked by local ghosts. I was hoping for a book with ghost stories told by the locals, but I'm asking too much from a book written in the early 1900s. Thank goodness it was free on Amazon, or I'd be mourning the waste of money.
February 25, 2013
Camping trips during grade school and high school were always highlighted with a bonfire night where participants gather round in one large or several intimate groups, sharing stories that usually incline towards the spooky to the terrifying. These stories are told with much attestation of truth: "I swear that one time, a friend of my friend..." or "My grandma's neighbor has seen a ghost..." to the much more credible "I saw it with my own two eyes!" Whether the story holds some truth or is merely an embellished tale is definitely the listeners's decision.
This relatively short book has the feel of campfire stories, with a unique cultural flavor. Here, there are ample details and facts to support the stories taken from the personal experiences of the author and from the reputable characters of his careful research. Belief is entirely up to the readers of this book, but, whatever conclusion you arrive at, the stories keep their eerie fantasticality that makes it a very universal and timeless subject. With factual events I've read about that are admittedly weirder than fiction, who's to say these stories are impossible? What's more surprising is the similarities it shares to some of what I've heard from my own Filipino culture of tales from beyond. Based on content, not grammatical structure and spelling errors, this free e-book is a 4 star.
This relatively short book has the feel of campfire stories, with a unique cultural flavor. Here, there are ample details and facts to support the stories taken from the personal experiences of the author and from the reputable characters of his careful research. Belief is entirely up to the readers of this book, but, whatever conclusion you arrive at, the stories keep their eerie fantasticality that makes it a very universal and timeless subject. With factual events I've read about that are admittedly weirder than fiction, who's to say these stories are impossible? What's more surprising is the similarities it shares to some of what I've heard from my own Filipino culture of tales from beyond. Based on content, not grammatical structure and spelling errors, this free e-book is a 4 star.
August 3, 2011
A genuinely peculiar and delightful little book! I thought this free Kindle book might be a collection of Indian supernatural folklore, but nope. Published during the First World War, Indian Ghost Stories turns out to be a chatty and digressive account of "true" ghost stories the author either experienced or heard about from friends. It's loosely divided by type -- apparitions to the recently dead to their loved ones, harbingers of death, haunted places, offended ghosts who must be propitiated, and so forth. Within those categories, though, it rambles about, and the general effect is charming, as though you were sitting on the verandah with the author sipping chai and hearing about his friend from work who found a dead girl in his newly taken photograph ... his voice is very pleasant, and he approaches his subject matter with zest. He also includes a section of "ghost stories" that turned out to have very mundane (and amusing!) solutions.
Nothing is documented, although Mukerji includes excerpts of newspaper reports for some of the incidents. Would be fun to see if any of these are actually in the morgues of Kolkata or Banares newspapers!
Nothing is documented, although Mukerji includes excerpts of newspaper reports for some of the incidents. Would be fun to see if any of these are actually in the morgues of Kolkata or Banares newspapers!
July 3, 2019
I actually really enjoyed this book. Short and sweet and a little scary at times.
I did feel like the author was trying to hard to write it for a British audience but that is just a product of the time it was written!
I did feel like the author was trying to hard to write it for a British audience but that is just a product of the time it was written!
June 5, 2016
Enjoyable Tales!
These stories are very interesting and are well written and edited. It is most intriguing how other cultures have almost the same types of ghost stories as we do.
These stories are very interesting and are well written and edited. It is most intriguing how other cultures have almost the same types of ghost stories as we do.
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