CULTURAL INFLUENCE ON INDIAN ENGLISH LITERATURE

Indian English Literature is the work of Indian writers, who pen in the English language but
whose native language could be any regional language of India. It is also associated with the
works of members of the Indian diasporas like Salman Rushdie, V. S. Naipaul, Kiran Desai,
Jhumpa Lahiri, Agha Shahid Ali, Rohinton Mistry. England, English Language and western
culture influenced Indian life greatly and responsible for the advent of Indian English literature.
Cultural influence means historical, geographical and familial factors that affect assessment and
intervention processes.

The Indian English literature is different from the western English literature in themes, language,
style of writing, imagery etc. In spite of its global presence, it is not delinked from Indianness.
Indianness brings the details of cultural patterns of India that are deeply rooted in antiquity and
have modern relevance. In spite of depiction of cultural diversity and diverse traditions, customs,
ways of life and philosophies in Indian English literature Indianness influences it through art,
legends, myths, history, politics, psychology, ecology, geography, customs, religion, rites, food
etc.

During pre- independence period Indian English literature was influenced by the past heritage,
growth of political consciousness, independence movement, partition of India, nationalism, east-
west relationship, religious and political problems, social change, cultural transformation,
struggle between tradition and modernity, moral disruption, mysticism, western culture,
communal problem and the plight of untouchables, landless poor, downtrodden, economically
exploited and oppressed. The mid20th century English Indian literature had witnessed the
emergence of poets influenced by symbolism, surrealism, existentialism, absurdism and
confessional poetry. They had used Indian phrases alongside English words to reproduce a blend
of Indian and Western culture. The present multicultural Indian English literature portrays the
struggle for adjustment, representation and recognition, experiences in multicultural society,
social change, changes in concept of morality and religiousness, political and religious problems,
lack of communication, cultural hybridity, east-west encounter, immigrants experiences, Indian
mysticism and longing for social and mental integrity. In 21st century, to satisfy the changing
taste of the readers the writers like Chetan Bhagat are illustrating the post-modern Indian society.

From Mulk Raj Anand, R. K. Narayan, Anita Desai, Sarojini Naidu, Toru Dutt to Salman
Rushdie, Vikram Seth, Allan Sealy, Amitav Ghosh, Jhumpa Lahiri, Chitra Banerjee, Arundhati
Roy, Vikram Chandra, Upamanyu Chatterjee, Rukun Adwani, Amit Chaudhary, Nikita Lalwani,
Gita Mehta, the flourish of Indian writers is long and much augmented.

English Indian literature, though influenced by the western philosophy and thought still
maintains its unique Indian and assorted richness. English Literature of India bears ingrained
colonial impact partially even in the works of present-day writers which is not peculiar for a
nation under colonial rule. But, the distinct Indian flavour is back in the English language. The
works of the modern Indian writers reflect the Indianised English. Be it Salman Rushdie, Shahshi
Tharoor or Amitav Ghosh -the deconstruction of the British English is quite evident. The
regional languages are freely used for breaking, restructuring and adding a new dimension to the
traditional narrative patterns.

Reference:

1. Indra Mohan, T. M. J. 2008. Post Colonial Writing: The Indian Review of

World Literature in English, Vol-II, July.
2. Iyengar, K. R. S. 1985. Indian Writing in English. New Delhi: Sterling
Publication.
3. K. Dhawan. 1999. The Novels of Amitav Ghosh. New Delhi: Prestige
4. Kirpal, Viney. 1979. The New India Novel in English. Delhi: Allied Publisher
5. Naik, M. K. 1982. A History of Indian English Literature. New Delhi: Sahitya
Akademi