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A SURVEY on INDIAN ENGLISH LITERATURE Dr.V V Siva Prasad* et al. ISSN: 2250-3676 [IJESAT] [International Journal of Engineering Science & Advanced Technology] Volume-5, Issue-2,134-139 A SURVEY ON INDIAN ENGLISH LITERATURE Dr.V. Siva Prasad Reader, Department of English, S.V Degree College,Kadapa,India Abstract Indo-Anglian literature contributed to the common pool of world writing in English. It is a literature which is a combination of Indian 9 literature and Indian literature written in English. Indian English Literature refers to the body of work by writers in India who write in the English and whose native or co-native language could be one of the numerous languages of India. It is also associated with the works of members of the Indian Diaspora. It is frequently referred to as IndoAnglian literature. As a category, this production comes under the broader realm of postcolonial literature- the production from previously colonized countries such as India. Indian English literature has a relatively recent history; it is only one and a half centuries old. The first book written by an Indian in English was by Sake Dean Mahomet, titled Travels of Dean Mahomet; Mahomet's travel narrative was published in 1793 in England. In its early stages it was influenced by the Western art form of the novel. INTRODUCTION my research work. On the basis of the understanding of the Indo-Anglian literature whole. The fact that Indian literatures are a and the rise and development of novel in product of a multilingual, multicultural and IndoAnglian literature, the major novels of sociohistorical mélange cannot be overlooked. Mulk Raj Anand can be judged properly. Indo- Today Indian literature reached at the apex of Anglian literature contributed to the common creation with the contribution of regional and pool of world writing in English. It is a national writers. This researcher would like to literature which is a combination of Indian 9 focus on the root and brief literary history of literature and Indian literature written in Indian writing in English and the genre – novel English. Indian English Literature refers to the in Indo-Anglian literature up to the time of body of work by writers in India who write in Mulk Raj Anand for better understanding of the English and whose native or co-native his novel. Here, it is essential to mention the language could be one of the numerous brief history of Indian writing in English and languages of India. It is also associated with the contributors of it. the works of members of the Indian Diaspora. Along with the list of the contributors in It is frequently referred to as IndoAnglian Indian writing in English, the rise of the new literature. As a category, this production form of literature- novel in India is also comes under the broader realm of necessary to focus. For that researcher would postcolonial literature- the production from like to divide the history of Indian writing in previously colonized countries such as India. English into three parts, first to understand Indian English literature has a relatively recent the beginning and exploration of Indian history; it is only one and a half centuries old. writing in English by major contributors, The first book written by an Indian in English second for the rise and development of new was by Sake Dean Mahomet, titled Travels of literary genre (novel) in Indo-Anglian Dean Mahomet; Mahomet's travel narrative literature and third to understand Anand as a was published in 1793 in England. In its early novelist. These three parts are foundation of stages it was influenced by the Western art IJESAT | Jan-Feb 2017 1 Available online @ http://www.ijesat.org V Siva Prasad* et al. ISSN: 2250-3676 [IJESAT] [International Journal of Engineering Science & Advanced Technology] Volume-5, Issue-2,134-139 form of the novel. Early Indian writers used Hindu College, Calcutta. A teacher as well as a English unadulterated by Indian words to poet, Derozio had expressed nature in his convey an experience which was essentially poetry like Keats. The flavor of Romanticism Indian. Indian writings in English are a product found in his poetry as he was highly of the historical encounter between the two influenced by Byron, Shelley, Keats, Scott and cultures—Indian Moore. He died at the very early age due to cholera in 1831. This was the time when Indian English Literature refers to the body of Hindu society in Bengal was undergoing works by authors in India who write in English considerable turmoil. In 1828, Raja Ram and whose native or co-native language could Mohan Roy established the Brahmo Samaj, be one of the numerous languages of India. It which kept Hindu ideals but denied idolatry. is also associated with the works of members This resulted in a backlash within orthodox of the Indian diaspora. The very definition of Hindu society. It is in the perspective of these the adjective “Indian” here is hazy. Many of changes that Derozio was appointed at Hindu these writers neither live in India, nor are college, where he helped release the ideas for Indian citizens. As a category, this production social change already in the air. His brilliant comes under the broader realm of lectures presented closely-reasoned postcolonial literature – the production from arguments based on his wide reading. He previously colonised countries such as India encouraged students to read Thomas Paine's Though one can trace such writers in India to Rights of Man and other free-thinking texts. a century back, Indian writing in English has Although Derozio himself was an atheist and come into force only in the last couple of had renounced Christianity, he encouraged decades or so, as far as literature goesIn this questioning the orthodox Hindu customs and way he had contributed his writing and conventions on the basis of Judeo-Christian thoughts in the foundation of Indo-Anglian rationalism. He infused in his students the literature and prepared pathway for his spirit of free expression, the yearning for successors and contemporaries like Henry knowledge and a passion to live up to their Derozio, the Cavally Brothers, Kashiproshad identity, while questioning irrational religious Ghose, Hasan Ali, P. Rajagopual, Mohanlal, and cultural practices. Derozio's intense zeal 12and Michel Madhusudan Dutt etc are for teaching and his interactions with students considered first Indo-Anglian writers of verse created a sensation at Hindu College. His and prose students came to be known as Derozians. He The mid nineteenth century is the renaissance organised debates where ideas and social in India as that was the time of great literary norms were freely debated. In 1828, he and social revolutions. At that time legendary motivated them to form a literary and thinkers like Maharshi Debendranath Tagore, debating club called the Academic Kesub Chunder Sen, Dayanand Saraswati, the Association. In 1830, this club brought out a founder of the Arya Samaj have contributed magazine named Parthenon. Apart from for social reform, educational reform and articles criticizing Hindu practices, the religious reform which has given scope for students wrote on women's emancipation renaissance in India. The first Indian English and criticized many aspects of British rule. He poet, Henry Louis Vivian Derozio (1809-1831) also encouraged students into journalism, to had nurtured English verse in India. He spread these ideas into a society eager for became a teacher of English literature at the change. He took great pleasure in his IJESAT | Jan-Feb 2017 2 Available online @ http://www.ijesat.org V Siva Prasad* et al. ISSN: 2250-3676 [IJESAT] [International Journal of Engineering Science & Advanced Technology] Volume-5, Issue-2,134-139 interactions with students, writing about but inspired by Milton's Paradise Lost. them: ‘Expanding like the petals of young Madhusudan transformed the villainous flowers I watch the gentle opening of your Ravana into a Hero. This grand heroictragic minds…’ Kashiprosad Ghose (1809-1837) is epic was written in nine cantos which is quite also counted as one of the founder pillars of unique in the history of Bengali Poetry. indo-Anglian literature. His contribution in Meghnad-Badh Kavya was Bengali literature's Indian English literature is as equal as Henry first original epic and gave Madhusudan the Derozio. His The Shair and Other Poems status of an Epic Poet. Much of his time (1830), finds a place in literary history of India. abroad, especially in Versailles, was spent in Even he is considered as the first Indian to abject poverty, as the money from his late publish a regular volume of English verse. father’s estate on which he was relying did Ghose edited an English weekly The Hindu not come regularly. His Indian friends who Intelligence. His poetry is counted as had inspired him to cross the ocean had by moralizing as good texture of originality and now managed to forget the beggar conventional descriptions. Michael Madhusudan altogether. He fell hopelessly Madhusudan Dutta (1824-1873), began into debts and appealed for help to the great writing while he was at Hindu College. He won personality, the scholar, social reformer, and several scholarships in college exams as well activist Ishwarchandra Vidyasagar (this kind as a gold medal for an essay on women's soul was known to all as Daya Sagar – the education. While a student at Hindu College, ocean of kindness, for his immense his poems in Bengali and English were generosity). His extravagant life-style, published in Jnananvesan, Bengal Spectator, fickleness in money matters, and reckless Literary Gleamer, Calcutta Library Gazette, drinking to drown problems conspired to Literary Blossom and Comet. Lord Byron was wreck his health and happiness, and likewise Madhusudan's inspiration.
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