Introduction
Indian writing in English has made significant contributions in the field of novel writing. There have been numerous notable authors in history, including Raja Rao, Mulk Raj Anand, and R. K. Narayan. These are the authors who popularized and brought worldwide fame to this genre. In recent years, Indian authors of fiction have gained widespread recognition in the West. The majority have been lauded for their inventive use of English. Their works play a significant part in providing the Indian English Fiction a new image as a trendsetter. This book offers an examination of the evolution of Indian English fiction starting from its genesis to the present day.
Background of the period
This period is also compared with the Elizabethan period of English in England when new literature was born. Indian first learned to read and speak and comprehend ,and they soon started writing also… thus, The seed of Indian writing in English was sown during the period of British rule in India.
Now a days the seed blossomed into a large tree it’s ripe fruit and fragrance of flowers attracts not only Indian but also a Foreigners .Indian English literature also being chewed and digested by readers. There are many fingers who feeding this seed and made it ever green large tree. From the pamphlets to books many writing increase including the news papers many short stories… drama… and Novels started writing..
The Novel : Themes, Background and Types.
The Novel is an old form of the history of English literature. Novels was started during the time of Elizabethan age. The first English novel is Pamela by Richardson in 1740. Then the novel rapidly increase in 19th e field of English literature but ‘novel’ as a literary form is new to India. It was practically non-existance in the Indian language besides the Sanskrit novels, the first Indian novel appeared in 1864 and it is Bankimchndra chetarjee’s Rajmohan’s wife.
Background of the Novel
The urge for social reformer was an important theme in some early Indian English fiction, Matter or subject like the position of women, the decay of the old aristocracy and the plight of peasants.
The Indian English novel of the early 19th century was deeply influenced by the political, social and ideological ferment caused by the Gandhian movement. The novelists of the Gandhian age were so much preoccupied with the politics.
In those days freedom struggle, the landless poor, east west relationship. The communal problem, the plight of untouchable etc. these all very significant themes. K.S. Venkatarmani’s novel Marugan the Tiller was the first come up under this influence Bankimchandra’s first published Raj Mohan’s wife in 1864 meanwhile, Raj Laxmi Devi’s The Hindu wife was published in 1881. Besides it Kapalkundala, Vishvriksh, Anandmath, and Devi Chaudhrani and other novels appeared between 1866 to 1886.
Rabindranath Tagore was also Considerable novelist in India. Tagore achieved his first success with chokher Bali 1902. Many other his famous novels like Gora 1910, Naukadubi 1906, Gharebaire 1916, jogajog 1929 etc.,
Variety of theme and types:
•After the independence the more serious novelist has shown how the joy of freedom have been neutralized by the tragedy of Partition. The problem of choice of subject, the choice of the medium, the choice of technique, the choice of audience this problem of choice at various levels bristle with the endless difficulty.
Historical themes:
In the historical theme, novelists have depicted the rich and adventurous history and life of ancient India. Indian novelists were very well aware with the great lives and history India and they put their effort in novel with historic stories of great kings and queens. Most popular historic novels are "Ambapali", "Ajatshashtra" is the story of a dancer who has rejected the love of king and joined Buddha. A. S. P. Ayyer's "Chankya" and "Chandragupt" is also recaptured life in ancient India.
Novel on politics:
Some novelists covered the period of Second World War in India. The growing charm between the Hindu and Muslim communities and the Bengal hungers. N. S. Phadke's "Leaves in the August Wind", Novelists have also written about Gandhian Civil movement. Vankatramani's "Kandan - The Patriots" and Raja Rao's "Kanthapura" are great novels on Gandhian civil movement.
Theme of Partition:
One of the most satisfying imaginative records of the partition is Khushavant Singh's "Train to Pakistan." The whole horror is there but humanity and compassion are there too. In Balchadra Rajan's "The Dark Dancer" we also get glimpse of partition horrors.
Novel of Social Criticism:
Like the historical novels, social criticism is also important as a subject of novel, novelist took up the issues of social civilization and from society which is from a distinctive group. "The Lake of Palms" is structured of life in Bengal. T. Ramakrishna's "The Dive for Death" is woven around certain superstitions that wake cowards of the character.
These all are the various theme or subject matter of Novels. Some novels covered the second world war period in India, the growing charm between the Hindu and Muslim communities. Two of the best novels about the Gandhian civil disobedience movements in the early thirties are… K.S. Vankatrmani’s Kandan and Patriot and Raja Rao’s Kanthapura.
One of the most satisfying imaginative records of the partition is khushvant Singh’s ‘Train to Pakistan'1956 . Like the historical novels the social criticism and social protest also form a distinctive group. Ramesh chunder dutt's The lake of Palms is a study of social life in Bengal towards the close of the 19th century . T.Ramkrishna’s The dive for the Death is woven around certain superstitions.
Style and technique of Indian Novels
The Indian novelist is not usually attracted to the new techniques in plotting, narration or characterization. The stream of Conscious method of narration is hardly tried by the Indian novelist, except G.V.Desani’s all about H. Hatter. And Anita Desai’s cry the peacock and the Vices in the city.
Numberless novels are published and they are clearly of unequal quality. The best novels are not many but… there are some very good novels. Thus Indo Anglian literature continuous to grow and flourish with the great writers. There is three major novelist in pretty independence era of Indian writing in English.
(1)Mulk Raj Anand.(12dec. 1905 - 28sept. 2004)
Mulk Raj Anand was an Indian writer in English. He is admired for his novels and short stories, which have acquired the status of being classic works of modern Indian English literature.
Literary Style
Associated with communism, he used his novels to make broad attacks on various elements of India’s social structure and on British rule in India.
•Novels
-Untouchable 1935
-Two leaves and bud 1937
-The Village 1939
-Across the Black waters 1939
-The swoard and the sickle 1942
-The big Heart. 1945
-The private life of an Indian prince 1953
-The Road 1961.
He wrote autobiographies also and for the morning face 1968 he won the Sanity Academy Award. He was also recipients of the civilian honour of the Padma Bhushan Award.
“silent suffering and agony in Mulk Raj Annand’s Untouchable. “
- shailaja B.wadikar
(2)R.K.Narayan
Rasipuram Krishnaswami iyer Narayan swami
Narayan among the best known and most widely read Indian novelist who wrote in English and known for his works set in the fictional south Indian town of malagudi. Narayan highlights the social context and everyday life of his characters. He has been compared to William Faulkner who also created a similar fictional town and likewise explored with houmour and compassion the energy of ordinary life.
•Literary style
Narayan’s writing technique was unpretentious with a natural element of humour about it. It focused on ordinary people, reminding the reader of next door, neighbors and cousins.
Critics have considered Narayan to be the Indian Chekhov ,due to the similarities in their writings the simplicity and the gentle beauty and humour in Tragic situation. Critic have also noted that Narayan’s writings tend to be more descriptive and less analytical, the objective style, rooted in a, detached spirit, providing for a more authentic and realistic narration.
•Major Novels
-Swami and friends 1935
-The bachelor of Arts 1937
-The Dark Room 1938
-The English Teacher 1945
-Mr. Sampath 1948
-The financial experts 1952
-Waiting for Mahatma 1955
-The Guide 1958
-The Man eater of Malagudi 1961
-Talkative Man 1986
-Grandmother’s Tale 1992
In a career that spanned over sixty years Narayan received many awards and honours including the A c Benson Medal from the Royal society of literature, the Padma Bhushan and the Padma vibhushan and he also achieved India’s third and second highest Civilian Awards.
(3) Raja Rao (8nov 1908 – 8july 2006)
Raja Rao was an Indian writer of English language novels and short stories, whose works are deeply rooted in metaphysics.
•Novels
-Kanthapura 1938
-The serpent and the rope 1960
- The cat and the Shakespeare : A tale of India 1965
- Comrade Kirillov 1976
-The Chess Master and his moves 1988
The serpent and the rope a semi auto biographical Novel recounting a search for spiritual truth in Europe and India, established him as one of the finest Indian prose stylist and won him the sahity Academy Award in 1964.for the entire body of his work Rao was awarded the Neustadt international Prize for literature in 1988.
Conclusion
Indian English novels have come a long way since their inception, evolving from imitative works to a distinct and mature literary tradition. Authors like Mulk Raj Anand, R.K. Narayan, and Raja Rao laid the foundation for this genre, while contemporary writers like Salman Rushdie, Amitav Ghosh, and Arundhati Roy have continued to innovate and expand its boundaries. Today, Indian English literature is recognized globally, contributing significantly to the world of literature.
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