Browsing Category: Indian Writings in English

INTRODUCTION Om Prakash Valmiki’s Joothan is not just a book—it’s a raw, unflinching journey into the heart of caste discrimination and the relentless pursuit of dignity in India. Through his powerful autobiography, Valmiki pulls back the curtain on the everyday realities faced by Dalits, exposing the deep-rooted social exclusion and humiliation that shaped his life. Moreover, from being denied access to water and education to enduring the pain of untouchability, Joothan lays bare the...

INTRODUCTION Sarah Joseph’s Hagar: A Story of Woman and Water is more than just a retelling of an ancient tale. It is a powerful exploration of resilience, identity, and the sacred bond between women and nature. At its heart, the story follows Hagar—a woman abandoned in the wilderness, facing thirst, loss, and isolation. Yet, her journey is not merely about survival. It is about transformation, empowerment, and the forging of a covenant with...

INTRODUCTION Meena Kandasamy’s poetry is raw, powerful, and unapologetically honest. She writes about caste, language, and identity with a fierce sense of purpose. Her words are not just poems—they are acts of resistance. Kandasamy uses poetry to challenge oppressive systems and give voice to the marginalized. In fact, she once said, “My poetry is naked, my poetry is in tears, my poetry screams in anger, my poetry writhes in pain.” These lines...

INTRODUCTION Few stories in Indian literature have captured the suffocating reality of caste oppression as vividly as Bandhu Madhav’s The Poisoned Bread. Bandhu Madhav wrote this Marathi short story in the mid-20th century, and it is not just a narrative—it holds up a mirror to the deep-seated injustices faced by Dalits in rural Maharashtra. The story’s title, The Poisoned Bread, is more than a metaphor; it’s a haunting symbol of how the caste...

INTRODUCTION Nayantara Sehgal’s Storm in Chandigarh is a powerful literary work. It brilliantly captures the complex political and social upheavals in post-independence India. The novel is set in Chandigarh, a modern city that serves as the capital for both Punjab and Haryana. Importantly, the story unfolds during a time marked by political rivalry, linguistic tensions, and regional discord. Sehgal’s narrative delves deep into these conflicts. She shows how they disrupt not only territorial boundaries...

INTRODUCTION Amitav Ghosh’s The Shadow Lines is a landmark novel of Indian English literature. It blends personal memory with major historical events to offer a deep meditation on identity, belonging, and the illusion of borders. Published in 1988, the novel won the Sahitya Akademi Award. It follows the narrator’s fragmented recollections, connecting two extended families—one in Calcutta, the other in London—through decades marked by the Swadeshi movement, World War II, Partition, and communal riots...

Introduction Arundhati Roy’s The God of Small Things is not just a story—it’s an experience. Set in the lush green landscapes of Kerala, the novel moves like the monsoon: slow, rhythmic, but unstoppable. Its rain doesn’t merely fall; it seeps into the soil of memory and family history. Published in 1997, the book won the Booker Prize, marking Roy’s explosive arrival on the global literary scene. What makes The God of Small Things special is how it...

Introduction In the vast canvas of Indian literature, few stories have achieved the enduring impact of Premchand’s ‘The Holy Panchayat’. First published in the early 20th century, this tale isn’t just a simple village anecdote; it’s a deep reflection on justice, impartiality, and the resilience of the Indian rural spirit. With themes echoing across generations, ‘The Holy Panchayat’ embodies the enduring moral conflicts that ripple through the fabric of our villages even...

Introduction Shashi Deshpande’s The Binding Vine is a profound exploration of female resilience and societal oppression. It weaves through multiple generations of women’s lives in India, revealing their struggles across personal trauma and social repression. At its core, the novel highlights their unyielding spirit of endurance and strength. Rather than presenting suffering as an inevitable fate, the narrative emphasizes the quiet dignity in their perseverance. Through nuanced storytelling, it offers a realistic portrayal of...

INTRODUCTION Jhumpa Lahiri’s The Namesake is a deeply evocative novel that explores the complexities of identity, culture, and belonging experienced by immigrant families. The story unfolds across two generations of the Ganguli family, originally from Calcutta (now Kolkata), India, who build new lives in the United States while striving to maintain their Bengali heritage. The narrative begins in 1968 as Ashima and Ashoke Ganguli settle into a small apartment in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Ashoke, a...