Indian literature boasts of a wide spectrum of writing, touching upon a range of styles and subjects. Contemporary literature, in several contexts, is understood to be literature post 1945. Indeed, the last few decades have witnessed the literary genius of many significant figures who have contributed to Indian Literature.
For this article on contemporary literature, we will be looking at works of Indian fiction in English published in the last few decades.
Arundhati Roy
While she has produced numerous works of non-fiction that discuss social and political issues, she has also published remarkable works of fiction. Her debut, The God of Small Things (1997) won the Man Booker prize for fiction. The book is notable for its portrayal of the journey of the twins at the centre of the novel who try to make sense of the world as they grow up and for its unafraid take on complex issues. For example, regarding matters of the heart and personal choices, a simple line on “love laws” reveals the burdensome and twisted realities: “The laws that lay down who should be loved, and how. And how much.” Her next work of fiction, The Ministry of Utmost Happiness (2017) was published twenty years after her debut novel.
Indu Sundraesan
Sundraesan has also published works of historical fiction. She is best known for her Taj Mahal trilogy, The Twentieth Wife (2002), The Feast of Roses (2003) and The Shadow Princess (2010) take us back to the politics and grandeur of the Mughal Empire. The first novel traces the childhood, youth and rise to power of Meher-un-Nissa or Noor Jahan, the twentieth wife of Emperor Jahangir. The book was adapted into a tv serial titled ‘Siyaasat’ for epic channel in 2017. Her other works include The Splendour of Silence (2006), In the Convent of Little Flowers (2008) and The Mountain of Light (2013).
Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
She’s had a long and illustrious writing career and her works include prose as well as poetry. She has produced literature across different genres, ranging from historical fiction and retelling to magical realism. The fineness and boldness of her craft can be seen in her works. One of her best known novels, The Palace of Illusions (2008), portrays the events of Mahabharata from Draupadi’s perspective, offering the readers a brilliant and engaging reading experience. Mistress of Spices (2005) has been adapted into a film with the same title, starring Aishwarya Rai. Her new book, Independence, set during the partition of 1947 will be published soon.
Arvind Adiga
His debut novel, The White Tiger (2008) won the Man Booker prize for fiction that year. In the last few years, Adiga has emerged a successful writer with an observant eye for the quotidian realities of modern India. In The White Tiger, Adiga attempts to invite his readers to view the class system and the politics behind it more critically. The novel traces the life of the protagonist, Balaram Halwai. His story reveals the gaping class disparities in Indian society and the insidious operations of power. Adiga’s other works include Between the Assassinations (2008), Last Man in the Tower (2011), Selection Day (2016) and more recently, Amnesty (2020). His novel, Selection Day was adapted into a Netflix series.
Kiran Nagarkar
Yet another brilliant writer of post colonial Indian literature in english, Kiran Nagarkar won the Sahitya Akademi award in 2000 for his novel Cuckold (1997). A gem in the genre of Historical Fiction, Cuckold takes us back to ancient times with the character Maharaj Kumar at its centre. This character is believed to be based on Bhoj Raj who was married to Mira Bai. The Arsonist (2019) is also a work of historical fiction and is based on the mystic poet and Saint Kabir. Other novels like Ravan and Eddie (1994), The Extras (2012) explore modern urban life. His portrayal of Mumbai, the setting for many of his novels, has been noted to be evocative as he attempts to capture the essence of the city and express it in his writing, through his characters. He has also written a number of plays and screenplays
Jerry Pinto
Based in Mumbai, he is a journalist, poet, writer and translator. His first novel, Em and the Big Hoom was published in 2012 and he won the Sahitya Akademi award in 2016 for his work in fiction. A collection of poetry, Asylum and Other Poems (2003) and a non fiction book based on actress Helen and titled Helen: The Life and Times of an H-Bomb (2006) are among his other notable works. He is also credited as a translator, having translated many Marathi language books like Daya Pawar’s Baluta (1978) and Sachin Kundalkar’s Cobalt Blue (2006) to English in 2015 and 2013 respectively. Cobalt Blue was adapted into a film for Netflix in 2022.
Much of Contemporary Indian fiction in English offers us a promising reading experience with compelling plots and memorable characters across several genres. Sustaining a broad spectrum of stories and storytellers, contemporary fiction does not shy away from addressing complex socio-cultural issues and tackling these issues head-on, exposing the brut reality of power structures. With its unpretentious style and gripping narratives, contemporary Indian fiction continues to make bold statements with an informed and aware voice of social critique underlining the storytelling process.
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