Can someone please recommend books for Portuguese rule in India?

by Khanabhishek

I could be wrong, but as little as I know, Portuguese were first to drive in India. And last to leave. They've been here longer than any foreign colony. Yet I can't find books to help me explore that subject.

terminus-trantor

A book I did not read, but seems to match your description is:
Pearson, Michael (1987). The Portuguese in India. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-25713-1. part of the New Cambridge History of India series. As I mentioned I have not read the book, but skimming it and it's table of contents it seems to provide concise overview of the entire period of Portuguese presence in India specifically, as well as detailed account of their rule and political establishment there, all the way to the taking over of Goa

There are a lot of other books on the subject of Portuguese arriving and taking parts of India. Most of them center on the earlier stages of that rule and deal with the entirety of the Empire which had possessions and interests in Western and Eastern Africa, in the Persian gulf and Red Sea, in Malacca straits, China, Japan, spice islands etc. So if you are focused only in India things will soon go to wide for you. additionally they tend to focus for the early part of the Empire, because since 1700s Portugal's presence in Asia was small, negligible and in some ways unchanged for hundreds of years, and as such uninteresting and irrelevant for most of these works

For such books, I can personally recommend:
Subrahmanyam, Sanjay (2012). "The Portuguese Empire in Asia, 1500–1700: A Political and Economic History "

This book specifically ( unlike others who rely mostly on European accounts ) brings more of the local Asian perspective, as well as providing more detailed and nuanced account of the political and economical situation right before and during the Portuguese involvement. It analyzes early successes and the later stagnation, crysis and decline, less from the military, but more from commercial and economic point of view. It might have a bit large scope as it deals with entire Portuguese presence in Asia and Indian Ocean, but honestly it is the only correct way to go because the Portuguese did not have presence just in India, they tried to control the whole heavily interconnected Indian ocean and beyond. One can not talk about the Portuguese controlling Goa and Diu, without discussing Ormuz, Aden, Egypt and spices. One can not talk about spices without mentioning Malacca, Molucas, China. And then one can not then mention China, without Japan, Spanish and Manilla etc etc.

additionally more general books I had read and can surely be useful for any investigation of Portuguese in the India:
Diffie, Bailey W.; Winius, George D. (1977). "Foundations of the Portuguese Empire, 1415–1580."

This book mostly deals with the military and technical aspects of the early expansion of the Portuguese (15th 16th century). If you are interested in why and how did the Portuguese go to India and managed to stay there, this is the book to go. It provides detailed and true story of Henry the Navigator, the colonization of Atlantic islands, exploration of Africa, reaching India and establishing the empire in Indian ocean. If you are additionally interested in the battles, ships, weapons, navigation tools the Portuguese used, this is the book for you. Unfortunately, it might provide little to actually analyze Portuguese political presence in India (although it does offer some insight), and it ends its narration in 1580, leaving almost 4 centuries of Portuguese presence in India uncovered.
or
Disney, A.R. (2009a). "History of Portugal and the Portuguese Empire, Portugal: From Beginnings to 1807 " (both volumes)
This 2 volume book provides possibly the best overview and story of events in Portugal and it's territories. The first volume deals mostly with Portugal itself, which is important context for what happened in the overseas empire, while the second volume deals with the overseas empire, going through them one by one (Atlantic islands, Africa, Brazil, India) and roughly explaining their status and history while under Portugal. It provides the best introduction to Portugal and its empire. It is also the best one of the above to explain the Portuguese relationship to the Jewish population and how it effected them, on their military orders and their roles, as well as give adequate attention Portugal's frequent attempts to conquer Morocco

if this does not help, wikipedia article for Portuguese Empire has huge list of books so look through them and find which seem interesting to you. Charles R. Boxer is considered a definite authority on Portugal's Empire history, but I personally have not had access to his books. Russel-Wood and Sir Peter Russel are also the most respected English authors even though the latter focuses more on the medieval part of the Iberian history