English in India – UGC NET – Notes

• Indian English Literature pertains to the body of literary work produced by Indian writers who write strictly in the English language, though their native or co-native tongue may be one of the many regional and indigenous languages of India. It represents a significant branch of English literature in India, reflecting Indian culture, history, and identity through the medium of English.
• This literary tradition is also closely connected with the works of the Indian diaspora, including prominent writers such as Salman Rushdie, who was born in India but resides abroad.

Development of Indian English Literature

• Indian English Literature, in its gradual evolution, can be traced back to 1608, when Emperor Jahangir of the Mughal Court welcomed Captain William Hawkins, commander of the British naval expedition Hector. Although India later came under British rule, English was adopted by Indians as a language of education, awareness, literary expression, and as an important means of communication among people of diverse religions and regions.
• Indian English literature steadily attracted attention across the country and earned admiration in its own right. Creative writing in English came to be regarded as an integral part of the broader Indian literary tradition. During the early period of British rule, Indian English novels, Indian English drama, and Indian English poetry gained remarkable recognition among educated Indians. Many regional writers, highly learned and erudite, chose to express themselves in the English language, often referred to as the “British mother tongue.”
• One towering figure in all genres of Indian English literature is Rabindranath Tagore, a vast reservoir of knowledge and intellect, whose works continue to be studied with deep respect.
• However, the authenticity and national commitment of Indian writers in English have sometimes been questioned. In English-speaking countries, they are occasionally labeled as “marginal” to the mainstream of English literature. Within India, some critics have accused them of abandoning their national or regional languages in favor of a so-called “alien” language, casting doubt on their dedication to the nation.
• Indian literature in English formally dates back to the 1830s, with Kashiprasad Ghosh, regarded as the first Indian poet writing in English. Soshee Chunder Dutt emerged as one of the earliest writers of fiction, contributing to the rise of the Indian English novel. In its early phase, political writing in the form of novels and essays was dominant, as exemplified by Raja Ram Mohan Roy, whose influential works on social reform and religion in India were written in English.