Indian English Literature

Early Contributors to Indian English Literature

• The early contributors to Indian English literature include writers like Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, Michael Madhusudan Dutt, and Toru Dutt.

Term for Indian English Literature

• The term "Indo-Anglian" is often used to refer to Indian English literature by some writers.

Growth of Indian English Fiction

• Writers like R.K. Narayan, Mulk Raj Anand, and Raja Rao contributed to the growth and popularity of Indian English fiction in the 1930s.

Indo-Anglian vs. Anglo-Indian Literature

• Indo-Anglian literature refers to literature written by Indians in English, while Anglo-Indian literature refers to literature written by British authors about India.

Postcolonial Literature

• Postcolonial literature within Indian English literature includes works that explore the themes of identity, nationhood, and cultural heritage in the context of colonialism and its aftermath.

Indian English Literature Repertoire

• Indian English literature is a diverse and rich body of work that encompasses a wide range of themes, styles, and genres, including fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and drama.

First Indian Novel in English

• The first Indian novel in English was written by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, titled "Rajmohan's Wife".

Toru Dutt

• Toru Dutt was a poet and novelist who wrote "The Brahmin Priest" and "Savitri".

Krupabai Satthianadhan

• Krupabai Satthianadhan wrote "Kamala: The Story of a Hindu Life" and "Saguna".

Dean Mahomet

• Dean Mahomet wrote "The Travels of Dean Mahomet", the first book written by an Indian in English, published in 1793.

Non-Fictional Prose Works

• The non-fictional body of prose-works in Indian English literature includes works by authors like Nirad C. Chaudhuri.

Novel by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay

• Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay wrote the novel "Govinda Samanta or the History of a Bengali Raiyat".

Posthumous Publication

• The novels of Indian English writer, Rashid Jahan, were published posthumously.

Kamala: The Story of a Hindu Life

• "Kamala: The Story of a Hindu Life" was written by Krupabai Satthianadhan, marking the first novel by an Indian woman author.

Challenging Standard English

• Mahatma Gandhi challenged 'the hegemony of Standard English' through the writing of "Indian Home Rule".

First Indian Author to Win a Literary Award

• R.K. Narayan was the first Indian author to win a literary award in the United States.

Creator of Malgudi

• R.K. Narayan is known for creating the fictitious town of Malgudi where he set his novels.

Writer of Harsh Storytelling

• Munshi Premchand is known for engaging with divisions of caste, class, and religion in rural India through harsh storytelling.

Translating the Mahabharata

• C. Rajagopalachari was responsible for translating the Mahabharata into English in its entirety for the first time into a European language.

Criticism of Parochial Writing

• R.K. Narayan is criticized for creating a parochial, detached, and closed world in the face of changing conditions in India.

'Indian Home Rule'

• Mahatma Gandhi's "Indian Home Rule" was written in Indian English, which blended English with Indian terms and idioms.

The Autobiography of an Unknown Indian

• Nirad C. Chaudhuri's "The Autobiography of an Unknown Indian" is best known for its vivid descriptions of Indian life and culture.

Friendship with R.K. Narayan

• Ursula Gunn remained close friends with R.K. Narayan till the end.

Hybrid Language

• Salman Rushdie is known for using a hybrid language in his writing, blending English with Indian terms.

Sahitya Akademi Award

• Nayantara Sahgal won the Sahitya Akademi Award for her novel "Rich Like Us".

Man Booker Prize

• Kiran Desai won the Man Booker Prize for her novel "The Inheritance of Loss".

Shortlisted for the Booker Prize

• Anita Desai was shortlisted for the Booker Prize three times and won an award for her novel "Fire on the Mountain".

Sahitya Akademi Award for Short Stories

• Ruskin Bond received the Sahitya Akademi Award for his collection of short stories "Our Trees Still Grow in Dehra".

Magic Realism in Indian English Literature

• Salman Rushdie's "Midnight's Children" is most famously associated with magic realism in Indian English literature.

Man Booker Prize for Debut Novel

• Aravind Adiga won the Man Booker Prize for his debut novel "The White Tiger".

'Home Grown' Writer

• Arundhati Roy is known as a 'home grown' writer and won the Booker prize in 1997.

River of Smoke

• Amitav Ghosh's latest work is "River of Smoke", the second volume of a trilogy.

Physical Landscape of Kerala

• Arundhati Roy writes about the physical landscape of Kerala in an award-winning book.

Maximum City

• Suketu Mehta authored "Maximum City", an autobiographical account of experiences in Mumbai.

Divisions of Caste, Class, and Religion

• Munshi Premchand is known for using harsh storytelling to engage with divisions of caste, class, and religion in rural India.

Nissim Ezekiel's Poetry

• Nissim Ezekiel often dealt with themes of love, nature, and the human condition in his poetry.

Award for Poetry Collection

• Nissim Ezekiel received the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1983 for his poetry collection "Latter-Day Psalms".

Contribution to Indian English Literature

• Nissim Ezekiel contributed to Indian English literature through his poetry, which explored themes of love, nature, and the human condition.

Writing Style

• Nissim Ezekiel's writing style is characterized by simplicity, clarity, and precision.

Influence on Indian English Literature

• Nissim Ezekiel influenced Indian English literature significantly, paving the way for future generations of poets.

Madhusudan Dutt's Verse

• Madhusudan Dutt used blank verse in his famous epic "Meghnadbad-Kabya".

Effect of Reading Madhusudan's Poetry

• According to Sir Ashutosh Mukherjee, reading Madhusudan's poetry has a profound effect on the reader, evoking feelings of awe and wonder.

Felicitation Ceremony

• A felicitation ceremony was organized to honor Madhusudan for his use of blank verse in Bengali poetry.

Standard to Test Erudition

• Recitation of Madhusudan's poetry was used as a standard to test guests' erudition in Bengali language during family gatherings in Kishoreganj.