Indian literature dates back to time of the Vedas, Ramayana and Mahabharata. These were some of the earliest texts written in Sanskrit and produced in India. So why isn’t the Indian literature we see today, written in Sanskrit? Well, like everything else, British colonisation impacted the literature being written. With the introduction of Anglicized education system following Macaulay’s famous “Minutes”, english became the primary means of texts and speech. As a result, existent and new writers wrote in English, often times emulating metres and stylistic devices of English authors. It wasn’t until the rise of freedom movement, that writers developed their own voices, giving birth to Indian English literature. Since its birth, Indian English authors have established their names among some of the greatest writers of all time. To name a few, R.K Narayan, Salman Rushdie, etc. are major contributors to the corpus of Indian English literature.
With so many great authors to choose from, it is sure to cause a daze. But don’t worry, here we come to your rescue. We bring you list of 5 best contemporary Indian English authors to add to your TBR!
1. Salman Rushdie
Popularity and controversy go hand in hand when we talk about this author. His second novel, Midnight’s children had an overnight success and awarded him his first Booker Prize in 1981. Dealing with post-partition India and critiquing the Emergency declared in the reign of Indira Gandhi, it became popular among the readers. But his writing styles incorporating the magical realism recieved most accolades. Moreover, his novel recieved a movei adaptation in 2012. In fact, the Toronto International Film Festival screened the movie in the same year as well.
But to the flip side, his fourth novel Satanic Verses landed in a controversy for hurting the Muslim religious sentiments. As a result, Muslims protested against it and burnt the novel on streets. In fact Ayotallah Khomeini, the then leader of Iran, issued a fatwa sentencing him to death. Nevertheless, as with other controversies, it died down and till today, Rushdie continues to produce fiction and non fiction work. Most of his work deals with themes of postcolonialism, diaspora, religion and divide between east and west. So if these themes interests you then, this is your sign to pick it up and give it a go!
2. Arundhati Roy
She took the literary world by storm with her debut novel published in 1997, “The God of Small Things”. Right after its publication, she won a Man Booker Prize for Fiction and received tremendous accolades. The novel primarily touches upon themes of love between fraternal twins and inter caste marriage, both of which became a hot topic for debate. Apart from it, her storytelling masters the craft of blending the political issues with domestic ones and this is what makes her a great writer.
She also actively voices her political opinions through her non fiction work. These works address environmental issues, capitalism, Kashmir conflict, Gujarat massacre, America’s war launch against Iraq etc. Some of her popular non-fiction include War Talk, My Seditious Heart, The End of Imagination, Capitalism: A Ghost Story etc. If you like reading non fiction, then do give these a try. But if you like fiction, then you can pick her new novel, “The Ministry of Utmost Happiness”!
3. Aravind Adiga
Born in 1974, Chennai, Adiga is a journalist turned writer. His career launched with The White Tiger. It won the Man Booker Prize in 2008 and made him join the likes of Arundhati Roy. All this fame came due to the vivid portrayal of Indian corruption and class struggle in his novel. His writing encompasses narration from multiple perspectives which highlights his mastery in craft of writing.
As with other authors, his contributions are not limited to a single novel. In fact, he has published another novel called Last Man in Tower. And even a short story collection titled Between the Assassinations. His latest release is Amnesty which depicts racial discrimination and prejudice while exploring the life of an illegal immigrant. The wide range of issues which he discusses within his works, shows that he is another great writer in making.
4. Kiran Desai
Hailing from the family of literary genius Anita Desai, we have her daughter as another one of the best authors who should be read. She was born in Delhi in 1997 and has travelled to US and UK to study creative writing. After which she went on to publish her first novel, Hullabaloo in the Guava Orchard. It even received Betty Trask Prize in 1998.
Yet the magnus opus of her career, The Inheritance of Loss, came in 2006. Exploring issues of globalisation, terrorism and immigration, it became an instant hit among readers who quite enjoy reading the novel. Till date, she has published only two novels but her name is placed alongside prodigies like Salman Rushdie. So, it would not be wrong to say, that writing is in her genes. This we hope gives you enough reasons to pick her work and read!
5. Jhumpa Lahiri
The list would have been incomplete without mentioning her. Especially since her works are a breath of fresh air for diasporic representation. Being part of the Indian America diaspora herself, she encapsulates struggles of immigrants to bridge gap between cultures. Her characters challenge the notion of a fixed identity in favour of the ever changing nature of identity. This is packed in an emotional and gripping writing which takes the reader along with the journey of the characters. Some of her best works include Interpreter of Maladies, Unaccustomed Earth, Namesake and The Lowland.
With this, we come to an end of our list of 5 Best contemporay Indian English authors. And now’s it’s your turn to explore these great works by prolific authors!
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If you are looking for a debut contemporary fiction that is being loved by readers, you can read A Man with A White Shadow.
