Novel - Indian Writing in English

Novel - Indian Writing in English

Introduction:

       

        The novel is an old form of the history of English literature. Novel was appeared first during the time of Elizabethan Age. the first English novel is "Pamela" written by Richardson in 1740.

        The novel rapidly increases in the field of English literature, but 'The Novel' as a literary form is new to India. In the India, novel appeared in 1864 and it is Bankim Chandra Chatterjee's "Rajmohan's Wife"

Background of Novel:

         Bankim Chandra has started the trend of novel in India with his novel "Rajmohan's Wife", and it was written in English. Novel was a totally new form for India but it got popularity than drama and play. Novel gained attention of critics and readers and the new trend has begun in India with this literary form of novel.

         Indian writers first started writing novels with the translation of western classics, but after that Indian novelists put their own effort in novel and started writing with the origin of India. After Bankim Chandra Chatterjee's novel, Rajlaxmi Devi's "The Hindu's Wife" gained an attention. "Anandmath" and "Devi Chaudhurani" are other novels appeared between 1866 to 1886. 

         Rabidranath Tagore was a considerable novelist in India; "Chokher Bali" is his famous novel. Sarat Chandra Chatterjee also went through Bankim Chandra Chatterjee's stage and Tagore's stage of imitative writing. 

Variety of themes and types:

           The novel in India has many themes and types before independence and after independence. But, before independence the subject of novel was almost took its place around vulgar literature, sex, crime, and the exploitation of cheap papers. Some of them were banned by the government.

    

          After independence the more serious novelists has shown how the joy of freedom have been neutralised by the tragedy of "partition", and the problem of a choice, of subject, medium, technique, audience, various levels, and endless difficulty have presented.

Historical themes:

          In the historical theme, novelists have depicted the rich and adventurous history and life of ancient India. Indian novelists were very well aware with the great lives and history India and they put their effort in novel with historic stories of great kings and queens. Most popular historic novels are "Ambapali", "Ajatshashtra" is the story of a dancer who has rejected the love of king and joined Buddha. A. S. P. Ayyer's "Chankya" and "Chandragupt" is also recaptured life in ancient India.

Novel on politics:

           Some novelists covered the period of Second World War in India. The growing charm between the Hindu and Muslim communities and the Bengal hungers. N. S. Phadke's "Leaves in the August Wind", Novelists have also written about Gandhian Civil movement. Vankatramani's "Kandan - The Patriots" and Raja Rao's "Kanthapura" are great novels on Gandhian civil movement.

Theme of Partition:

        One of the most satisfying imaginative records of the partition is Khushavant Singh's "Train to Pakistan." The whole horror is there but humanity and compassion are there too. In Balchadra Rajan's "The Dark Dancer" we also get glimpse of partition horrors.

Novel of Social Criticism:

          Like the historical novels, social criticism is also important as a subject of novel, novelist took up the issues of social civilization and from society which is from a distinctive group. "The Lake of Palms" is structured of life in Bengal. T. Ramakrishna's "The Dive for Death" is woven around certain superstitions that wake cowards of the character. 

Style and technique of Indian novel:

       In Indian novelists is not usually attracted to the new techniques in plotting, narration, or characterization, as a rule description of sex life used to be prudish. The stream of consciousness method of narration is hardly tried by the Indian novelists except G. V. Desani's "All about H. Hatterr" and Anita Desai's in "Cry the Peacock" and "Voices in the City".

       It was mentioned earlier that in Indian novel in one or the other way saints are very important from the time of Bankim Chandra Chatterjee's 'Sanyasi' to R. K. Narayan's "The Guide" in which Raju became sanyasi by mistake.

Conclusion:

        Numberless novels have published, many of them was not best good novels. Thus, the Indo - Anglican literature continued to grow and flourished, all these novelists, it has indeed bright future.