Indian English Literature Summary

975 Words4 Pages
Introduction to Indian English Literature: (2) Indian Consciousness Problem: Another peculiar problem that faces the Indian novelist in English is that of creating an Indian consciousness. Novels in English are likely to command a market not only in India, but all over the English speaking world. Hence he must project an image of India and her culture, which is authentic and national, rather than distorted, narrow and regional. He must overcome his regional loyalties, and project his vision of the cultural and national identity of India which is sincere and truthful. The problem is further complicated by cultural changes that have taken place as a result of the impact of the West. Writes G. Paul Verghese in this connection, “The dynamics…show more content…
Hence the novelist tends to explain regional customs, rites and ceremonies for readers in other parts of the country, and Indian customs, traditions, rites and ceremonies, for readers outside India. Often such explanations stand out of the context, strike a jarring note, and become a serious artistic fault. Such explanations are certainly necessary, but they should be made an integral part of the story. They should be justified by their context. The novelist cannot ignore the reader. He must remember that he is often not present on the scene, and that artistic success lies in making him see it. Explanatory details are, therefore, unavoidable, but hey must be carefully and skilfully woven into the fabric of the total design. This problem has however, been more successfully solved than the other ones. “Not only Raja Rao and R.K.Narayan but also lesser writers like Kamala Markandeya in her Nectar in a Sieve and Menon S. Marath in his The Wound of Spring have successfully solved this problem.” In their works, the successful weaving of such details into the total texture creates a delicious illusion of…show more content…
It continues to change and grow, and adapt itself to the changing Indian environment. Social, Political, Technological and Industrial changes have brought corresponding changes in its substance. However, in the field of characterization the Indian novelist in English has not been quite so successful. With some exceptions his characters continue to be stereotypes. The problems of creating ‘round’ three dimensional figures, has not been successfully tackled so far. Even novelists, like Mulk Raj Anand, despite all their psychological insights, are deficient in this all-important aspect of the art of a novelist. As K. B. Vaid points out, many Indian novelists have failed to create adequately individualised characters. Further, the novelist even to-day is sometimes carried away by the lure of creating the image of a romantic and glamorous India, the India of Rajas and Maharajas, and of mystic saints and sadhus who can achieve miracles. Thus Anand in his ‘Private life of a Prince’ and Malgonkar in his ‘The Princess’ portray the splendours of royal life during its last days, and Kamala Markandeya in her ‘Possession’ presents a weird picture of a mysterious India. Such novels distort reality and the novelist must guard himself against this

More about Indian English Literature Summary

Open Document