List of Indian English Poets & Writers

Table of Contents

English Literature surpasses the boundaries of British history and authors, extending its influence to Commonwealth nations and former colonies. The linguistic footprint of English extends prominently to these regions, giving rise to unique English Literature within these countries. Among these nations, India stands out as a prominent example.

Especially for those gearing up for the UGC NET in English, a focused understanding of Indian English Literature becomes increasingly vital. A comprehensive approach to mastering this substantial segment involves immersing oneself in the works of diverse writers and poets native to these lands. In this regard, it’s imperative to acquaint oneself with a roster of Indian English Poets & Writers that holds significant importance

UGC NET English Literature

Famous Indian English Poets

There are plenty of Indian English poets. The history of Indian English writing goes back to pre-independence. From the graceful and intimate poetry of Toru Dutt and the insightful portrayal of common mass in the poems of Sarojini Naidu to Nissim Ezekiel and more.

Numerous Indian English poets are writing about different things, handling the subject matter in a different manner and with varying levels of skill. Let’s check out some of the popular poets and some of their significant work, which you must know of.

List of Famous Indian English Poets
Poet	Major Works
Sri Aurobindo	Bride Of The Fire Evolution (revised) Life The Golden Light The Dreamboat Life And Death Nirvana The call Of The Impossible A God’s Labour Soul In The Ignorance
Henry Louis Vivian Derozio	The Harp of India To India- My Native Land Song of Hindustanee Minstrel A Walk By Moonlight Going Into Darkness The Fakeer Of Jungheera
Nissim Ezekiel	Night Of The Scorpion The Patriot Philosophy Poet, Lover, Birdwatcher Soap Jewish Wedding In Bombay The Professor Goodbye Party For Miss Pushpa T.S. Urban
Jayanta Mahapatra	Hunger Her Hand Dawn At Puri Grandfather Ash Freedom A summer Poem Twilight The Captive Air Of Chandipur-on-sea
Rabindranath Tagore	Where the Mind is without fear Leave This Let Me Not Forget Last Curtain Freedom At the Last Watch Defamation Lamp Of Love Clouds And Waves
A.K Ramanujan	Looking For A Cousin On A Swing A River Prayer To Lord Murugan On The Death of A Poem Chicago Zen Still Life Astronomer Extended Family Elements Of Composition
Toru Dutt	Our Casuarina Tree Love Came To Flora Asking For A Flower Sonnet Lakshman My Vocation Christmas The Young Captive The Sower The Broken Bell
Keki N. Daruwalla	Under Orion Apparitions In April Crossing Of Rivers Winter Poems Keeper Of The Dead Landscapes A Summer of Tigers Night River The Map-Maker
Kamala Das	A Hot Noon In Malabar An Introduction The Looking Glass The Old Playhouse Words The Freaks Summer In Calcutta The Suicide The Dance Of The Eunuchs
Gopi Kattor	Father, Wake Us In Passing The Coffin Maker My Daughter Reports A Senior’s Suicide Digging The Water Of The Ganges Africa
Vikram Seth	All You Who Sleep Tonight The Frog And The Nightingale From California Round And Round Interpretation Unclaimed At Evening Distressful Homonyms Protocols Promise
R Parthasarathy	Homecoming Three strains Under Another Sky Lines For A Photograph Rough Passage From Exile
Meena Alexander	Atmospheric Embroidery Black Sand At The Edge Of The Sea Darling Coffee Lychee Muse Night Theatre Shook Silver Torn Branches

Famous Indian English Writer

Apart from the various Indian English Poets, there are plenty of Indian English authors writing various genres such as novels, short stories, drama, and more. From the identifiable name of Mahesh Dattani when it comes to drama to the ever-popular Arundhati Roy. There are plenty more writers contributing to Indian English Writing in various capacities. Let’s take a look at a few of them.

List of Famous Indian English Writers
Writer	Major Works
Mulk Raj Anand	Untouchable (1935) Coolie (1936) The Village (1939) The Sword and the Sickle (1942) The Big Heart (1945)
R.K Narayan	The English Teacher (1945) Waiting for the Mahatma (1955) The Guide (1958) The Man-Eater of Malgudi (1961) The Vendor of Sweets (1967) A Tiger for Malgudi (1983)
Raja Rao	Kanthapura (1938) The Serpent and the Rope (1960) The Cat and Shakespeare: A Tale of India (1965) Comrade Kirillov (1976) The Chess Master and His Moves (1988)
Khushwant Singh	Train to Pakistan (1956) I Shall Not Hear the Nightingale (1959) Black Jasmine (1971) Delhi: A Novel (1990) Women and Men in My Life (1995) The Company of Women (1999) The Sunset Club (2010)
Ruskin Bond	The Room Of The Roof Vagrants in the Valley The Sensualist Once upon A Monsoon Time Delhi Is Not Far Angry River The Women on Platform 8 All Roads Lead to Ganga Too much Trouble
Anita Desai	Cry, The Peacock (1963) Voices in the City (1965) Bye-Bye Blackbird (1971) Clear Light of Day (1980) Scholar Gipsey (1996) Fasting, Feasting (1999) Diamond Dust and Other Stories (2000) The Zigzag Way (2004)
Kiran Desai	The Inheritance of Loss (2006) Hullabaloo in the Guava Orchard (1998)
Arundhati Roy	The God of Small Things (1997) The Ministry of Utmost Happiness (2017)
Amitav Ghosh	The Circle of Reason (1986) The Shadow Lines (1988) The Calcutta Chromosome (1995) The Glass Palace (2000) The Hungry Tide (2004) Sea of Poppies (2008) River of Smoke (2011) Jungle Name (2021)
Jhumpa Lahiri	The Namesake (2003) The Lowland (2013) Dove mi trovo (2018) Interpreter of Maladies (1999) Unaccustomed Earth (2008)
Arun Joshi	The Foreigner (1968) The Strange Case of Billy Biswas (1971) The Apprentice (1974) The Last Labyrinth (1981) The City and The River (1990)
Vikram Seth	The Golden Gate (1986) A Suitable Boy (1993) An Equal Music (1999) Arion and the Dolphin (1994) The Louse and the Mosquito (2020)
Shashi Deshpande	That Long Silence (1989) Shadow Play (2013) The Dark Holds No Terror (1980) If I Die Today (1982) Come Up and Be Dead (1983) Roots and Shadow (1983)

Contribution of Indian English Poets & Writers to English Literature

Indian English poets and writers have made invaluable contributions to the rich tapestry of English literature, infusing it with diverse cultural perspectives and narratives. From the eloquent verses of Rabindranath Tagore, whose “Gitanjali” resonated with universal emotions, to the evocative prose of Salman Rushdie, whose “Midnight’s Children” rewrote the boundaries of storytelling, these literary luminaries have woven a vibrant tapestry of words that reflect the multifaceted nature of India’s society, history, and human experiences.

Writers like Arundhati Roy, Jhumpa Lahiri, and Arun Kolatkar have delicately explored themes of identity, displacement, and love, resonating with readers across the globe. They’ve also fearlessly addressed pressing social issues, as seen in Mulk Raj Anand’s poignant portrayals of societal inequalities. These writers, while contributing to English literature, have also served as cultural ambassadors, bridging the gap between their Indian roots and a global audience, enriching the literary world with their unique voices and perspectives.

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