Studying Anglo-Indian Novels: A Forgotten Genre (original) (raw)

Introduction to Indian English Literature

Literature views reality critically. Literature presents the essence of reality linking things together. As art is the negative knowledge of the actual world, it exists in the real world and has a function in it. Yet, it offers a knowledge that negates a false condition.

What is in the name?: Problematic of Anglo-Indian Literature

Though English does not find a place in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution yet the use of English has been allowed for various purposes under Articles 210, 343(2), 345, and 348(3)(iii). As the burden of history is too heavy to be overthrown, in at least five Indian states English enjoys the status of official language. Studies in English Literature continue to be promoted in a big way in all the universities of the country and graduating in English is considered socially valuable and prestigious. Gandhi used English and published in it prolifically in the heydays of nationalistic fervour. Nehru himself an exuberant user of English, argued for its inclusion in the list of languages to be patronised by Sahitya Akademi, the national body for Indian literature. Whether the literature written in this language in India is unique and if it deserves a special treatment in the country is a debatable issue as has been made out also by Salman Rushdie's assertion in his book, The Vintage Book of Indian Writing, -… the ironical proposition that India's best writing since independence may have been done in the language of the departed imperialists is simply too much for some folks to bear‖ (xiv) though Rushdie goes to correct himself in the very next sentence: -It ought not to be true, and must not be permitted to be true.‖ (Idem) If the awards given by Sahitya Akademi are any proof, the record of English is excellent as no book worthy of an award has been found only in twelve years (1961, 62, 64, 66, 68, 70, 72, 73, 74, 95, 97 and 2008; 1960's may be treated as an exception as the anti-English movement was at its peak) since 1960 (the year English was included in the list). Therefore, Salman Rushdie's observation, -. . . the prose writingboth fiction and non-fiction-created in this period by Indian writers working in English, is proving to be a stronger and more important body of work than most of what has been produced in the 16 ‗official languages' of India, the socalled ‗vernacular languages', during the same time; and, indeed, this new, and still burgeoning, ‗Indo-Anglian' literature represents perhaps the most valuable contribution India has yet made to the world of books‖ (x) appears to be quite valid and genuine. However, there are others who refuse to accept anything written in this language as authentic Indian as -English is not the language in which most of the writers dream in.‖ However, there is no denying the fact that a vast literature in India exists in English despite the debate about the genuineness of the literature. ) provides the following information: -… Raja Rammohan Roy began publishing his work [in English] in 1816, and recent research has shown that Indians were contributing to English-language periodicals in India before the end of the eighteenth century. The first book so far known to have been published in English by an Indian was Sake Deen Mahomed's Travels (1794). Since English-language education started in India as early as 1717, it is possible that Indo-English literature was published even earlier. This needs concerted research which has simply not been done so far.‖ (312) B J Wadia is right when he writes: -… all that is written by Indians in the English language cannot be called ‗literature'.‖ (Iyengar 1945 ix) and therefore utmost care has to be taken in deciding the starting point of this literature.

Indo-English literature in an Indian context

KITAAB CONNECTING ASIAN WRITERS WITH GLOBAL READERS, 2022

Dr. Ramlal Agarwal’s essay captures the journey of Indo-English Literature from 1857 when it started to date with great emphasis on the various milestones and important contributors to this journey.

Indian English literature Wikipedia

Indian English literature (IEL), also referred to as Indian Writing in English (IWE), is the body of work by writers in India who write in the English language and whose native or co-native language could be one of the numerous languages of India. Its early history began with the

What Is in a Name?: Problematic of Anglo-Indian Literature

Studia Anglica Resoviensia

Anglo-Indian Literature is not literature produced by or about Anglo-Indians but a distinct category of literature in English about India by the British. Many independent and appended Glossaries of Indian terms had also been published before George Clifford Whitworth's An Anglo-Indian Dictionary (1885) as a prelude to this literature. Later, even Indians' contributions in English were brought under this class. Scrutiny of several English and Indian historians' take on this literature-type reveals that Anglo-Indian Literature has been changing its contours quite frequently. What is amazing is that even the names of this literature have been changing with time and the new avatars keep on taking place by embracing new genres / literatures / litterateurs. The term Anglo-Indian is used both as an adjective and a noun. It is heavily loaded as it points towards paternal lineage, colour, religion, culture, mind and the location of the author that distinguishes one from other British nationals. It was introduced as the official description of the Eurasian communities for the first time in 1882. Viceroy Charles Hardinge, in 1911, sanctioned the use of the term Anglo-Indian in the official census. An insight into the community's history will certainly be helpful in understanding the cultural concerns of the community and issues in their literature. Confusion among the editors, literary historians and academic scholarship is no less responsible for the changing names and adopting the new ones for this hybrid literature. As their concerns are divided between allegiance to the emerging nation i.e. India and loyalty to the crownthe former masters they are not able to make up their minds about various published works. With the passage of time, Anglo-Indian Literature has disappeared like a meteor and has been transformed into Indian writings in English.

Rise and Development of Indian English Novel

International Journal On Integrated Education, 2021

The British Government established English as a language in India. As a result, English would almost certainly perish as a language in India. It grew into something more. From a historical standpoint, Indian English literature has gone through many periods, including Indo-Anglian, Indian-English, and Indian writing in English, and, most recently, Indian English literature. Despite the diversity of its languages, races, and faiths, Indian writing in English has effectively grasped and embodied the multi-cultural, multilingual community. The present study focused on the development of the Indian English Novel of Pre & post-independence period. The main objective of this study to find out the rise and development of the Indian English Novel of multilingual India. Methodology Employed based on qualitative research.