Critical Indian English Literature

Early Indian writers used English unadulterated by Indian words to convey an experience which was essentially Indian. The form and function of Indian English is significantly different from those of the native varieties of English. Quite a few critics, in English as well as the languages, have been employing Western theoretical tools to analyse Indian texts, both old and new. The influence of Western criticism was evident from the very beginning of modern criticism in India, which emerged along with the new genres like the short story, the novel and the modern prose-play. English education created bilinguals, highly imaginative and resourceful, who began to wield the English language effectively and use it as a means of self-expression for creative purposes. Hence, Indian English literature is blooming and has given a source of expression to the Indians and for the rest of the world to see. Today English language and literature is a part of Indian multilingual and multicultural ethos. This book is expected to be of considerable interest and use to the students as well as the teachers engaged in Indian English Literature study.