Q. Write an essay on
development of Post-independence Indian English novel.
Ans. The Indian English novel
emerged in the post-independence era, marked by a wave of literary creativity
that reflected the social, political, and cultural upheavals of the time. This
period saw a surge in the number of Indian writers who chose to write in
English, despite the language being a legacy of the colonial era. The Indian
English novel reflected the unique Indian sensibility, and it was characterized
by themes of identity, nationalism, and social justice. In this essay, we will
explore the history of post-independence Indian English novel.
The Indian English novel had its beginnings in the early 20th century, with
writers like R.K. Narayan, Raja Rao and Mulk Raj Anand, who wrote in English
but drew inspiration from the Indian social and cultural milieu. Narayan’s
novels, set in the fictional town of Malgudi, captured the essence of Indian
middle-class life with their simple language and vivid imagery. Anand, on the
other hand, wrote about the lives of the downtrodden and exploited, focusing on
issues like caste, poverty, and inequality.
The post-independence era saw the emergence of a new generation of Indian
writers who sought to break away from the colonial legacy of the English
language and create a distinct Indian literary identity. One of the most
prominent figures of this era was Raja Rao, whose novel ‘Kanthapura’ (1938)
marked a new direction in Indian English literature. The novel was set in a
small village in southern India and used a unique blend of English and Indian
idioms to create a new kind of linguistic identity. It was also a political
novel that dealt with the nationalist movement and the struggle for
independence.
Another significant figure in the post-independence Indian English novel
was Mulk Raj Anand. His novel ‘Untouchable’ (1935) was a scathing critique of
the caste system and the discrimination faced by the untouchables. Anand’s
later works like ‘Coolie’ (1936) and ‘Two Leaves and a Bud’ (1937) focused on
the plight of the working classes and the exploitation of labour.
The 1950s and 60s saw the emergence of a new generation of Indian writers
who were influenced by modernism and the European literary tradition. Writers
like R.K. Narayan, Nirad C. Chaudhuri, and Bhabani Bhattacharya, Arun Joshi,
Kamala Markandaya, Nayantara Sahagal and others experimented with form and
style, producing works that were more complex and sophisticated than the
earlier novels. R. K. Narayan’s ‘The Guide’ (1958) was a modernist masterpiece
that dealt with the themes of personal transformation and self-realization.
The 1970s saw the emergence of a new trend in Indian English literature,
characterized by a strong feminist voice. Writers like Kamala Das, Shashi
Deshpande, and Arundhati Roy challenged the patriarchal norms of Indian society
and wrote about the experiences of women. Kamala Das’s autobiography ‘My Story’
(1976) and Deshpande’s novel ‘That Long Silence’ (1988) were landmark works
that explored the complexities of the female psyche.
The 1980s and 90s saw the emergence of a new generation of Indian writers
who were influenced by postmodernism and the global literary tradition. Writers
like Salman Rushdie, Amitav Ghosh, and Vikram Seth produced works that were
marked by their stylistic experimentation and their engagement with issues of
identity and belonging. Rushdie’s ‘Midnight’s Children’ (1981) was a postmodern
masterpiece that used magical realism to explore the themes of nationalism and
identity.
In conclusion, the post-independence era in India witnessed the emergence
of a rich and diverse literary tradition that reflected the complexities of
Indian society and culture. The Indian English novel, in particular, played a
significant role in this literary renaissance,
