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Beginning
in the 19th century, British and Western literary models in general
had a great impact on Indian literature, the most striking result
being the introduction of the use of vernacular prose on a major
scale. Such previously unknown forms as the novel and short story
began to be adopted by Indian writers, as did realism and a new
interest in social questions and psychological description.
The
impact of European culture. The
heritage of the ancient and medieval periods of Indian culture is
still a part of India today. But
when India became exposed to European culture--and eventually became
part of the British Empire--it came heavily under the influence of
Western ideas. Some
Indian writers reacted to the European presence by reviving the
ancient values of Hinduism. Other
writers eagerly adopted Western forms of writing such as journalism
and the novel.
The
modern period of Indian literature began in the 1800's, a period of
great social change. All
the major languages evolved a thriving literature which they still
possess. The most
important development was the increased importance of prose.
Although prose works had existed in earlier Indian
literature, most traditional texts (which were largely religious in
content or feeling) had been written in verse.
During the modern period, Indian prose achieved maturity as a
vehicle for expressing a wide range of ideas.
Two
related developments helped the process of change.
One was the introduction of the printing press by Christian
missionaries (scribes had hand-copied texts in earlier times).
The other development was the birth of Indian journalism.
The spread of Western-style education helped produce a new
readership for the new literature.
Writers expressed ideas of social reform, and laid great
emphasis on realism.
The
Impact of European Culture
The
heritage of the ancient and medieval periods of Indian culture is
still a part of India today. But
when India became exposed to European culture--and eventually became
part of the British Empire--it came heavily under the influence of
Western ideas. Some
Indian writers reacted to the European presence by reviving the
ancient values of Hinduism. Other
writers eagerly adopted Western forms of writing such as journalism
and the novel.
The
modern period of Indian literature began in the 1800's, a period of
great social change. All
the major languages evolved a thriving literature which they still
possess. The most important development was the increased
importance of prose. Although
prose works had existed in earlier Indian literature, most
traditional texts (which were largely religious in content or
feeling) had been written in verse.
During the modern period, Indian prose achieved maturity as a
vehicle for expressing a wide range of ideas.
Two
related developments helped the process of change.
One was the introduction of the printing press by Christian
missionaries (scribes had hand-copied texts in earlier times).
The other development was the birth of Indian journalism.
The spread of Western-style education helped produce a new
readership for the new literature.
Writers expressed ideas of social reform, and laid great
emphasis on realism.
The
Birth of Nationalism
During
the late 1800's, the various regions of India began to share a
common purpose in reacting to the British presence in their country.
A nationalist movement gradually grew in strength.
This movement was the inspiration behind much Indian writing
in the 1800's and early 1900's.
During
the late 1800's, the various regions of India began to share a
common purpose in reacting to the British presence in their country.
A nationalist movement gradually grew in strength.
This movement was the inspiration behind much Indian writing
in the 1800's and early 1900's.
A
common pattern exists in the modern literature of most Indian
languages. The spread
of journalism helped the development of prose writing, with the
short story becoming especially popular.
Writers such as the Bengali Bankin Chandra Chatterjee (1838-1894)
attacked colonialism and created their own brand of nationalism.
Bankin's historical novels achieved popularity throughout the
subcontinent and helped spread nationalism and patriotism.
Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941), the greatest name in modern
Indian literature, made federalism an important part of his concept
of national ideology. He
said that the unity of India should be a unity in diversity.
See TAGORE, RABINDRANATH. Patriotic
writings grew almost simultaneously in different languages as part
of the resistance of a community to foreign rule.
For example, Rangalal in Bengali, Mirza Ghalib (1797-1869) in
Urdu, and Bharatendu Harishchandra (1850-1885) in Hindi all
expressed their opposition to colonial rule and wrote about the
glorification of India.
The
Bengali writer Michael Madhusan Dutt (1824-1873) wrote the first
modern epic in an Indian language.
Subramania Bharati (1882-1921) was a great Tamil poet who
revolutionized the poetic tradition in Tamil.
Maithili Saran Gupta (1886-1964) and Bhai Vir Singh
(1872-1957), writing in Hindi and Punjabi respectively, took themes
from mythology and history for their patriotic epics.
The
first Indian novels appeared in the late 1800's.
Krishnamona Chetty's Sri Ranga Raja (1872) was the first
novel in Telugu; Samuel V. Pillai's Pratap Mudaliyar Charitram
(1879) was the first in Tamil; and Chandu Menon's Indu Lekha (1889)
the first in Malayalam.
These novels questioned contemporary social practices and
customs. Similarly, the
Bengali novel Phulmani O Karunar Bibaran (1852) by the English
writer H. Catherine Mullens and the Hindi novel Pariksha Guru (1882)
by Lala Sriniwas Das examined social issues.
Historical
novels were written by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee in Bengali and Hari
Narayan Apte in Marathi to describe the glorious past of India and
instil nationalist sentiments in their readers.
Tagore wrote his novel Gora (1910) to challenge colonial rule
and to give new meaning to Indian nationalism. A common pattern
exists in the modern literature of most Indian languages.
The spread of journalism helped the development of prose
writing, with the short story becoming especially popular.
Writers
such as the Bengali Bankin Chandra Chatterjee (1838-1894) attacked
colonialism and created their own brand of nationalism.
Bankin's historical novels achieved popularity throughout the
subcontinent and helped spread nationalism and patriotism.
Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941), the greatest name in modern
Indian literature, made federalism an important part of his concept
of national ideology. He
said that the unity of India should be a unity in diversity.
See TAGORE, RABINDRANATH.
Indian
romanticism. The three
major influences on modern Indian literature were Sri Aurobindo
(1872-1950), Rabindranath Tagore, and Mohandas Gandhi (see GANDHI,
MOHANDAS KARAMCHAND). Their
writings marked the movement of Indian romanticism.
Sri Aurobindo wrote mainly in English.
His poetry and the philosophical treatise The Life Divine
express his search for the divine in man.
Tagore's quest for beauty leads him to the conclusion that
service to humanity is the best form of contact with God.
Tagore was a novelist, poet, playwright, composer, and
painter of great renown. His
collection of poetry Gitanjali (Song Offerings) won the Nobel Prize
for literature in 1913.
Tagore
inspired writers of romantic poetry in many Indian languages.
Indian romantic poetry contains a strong element of
mysticism. The greatest
Urdu poet of this era is Muhammad Iqbal (1873-1938).
His best-known collection of poetry is Baan-e-Daraa (Song of
Eternity) (1932). See
IQBAL, SIR MUHAMMAD
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