Explore Indian Writing in English: History, Key Authors & Debates | IIT Madras Course
Course Details
| Exam Registration | 189 |
|---|---|
| Course Status | Ongoing |
| Course Type | Core |
| Language | English |
| Duration | 12 weeks |
| Categories | Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Credit Points | 3 |
| Level | Undergraduate/Postgraduate |
| Start Date | 19 Jan 2026 |
| End Date | 10 Apr 2026 |
| Enrollment Ends | 02 Feb 2026 |
| Exam Registration Ends | 20 Feb 2026 |
| Exam Date | 19 Apr 2026 IST |
| NCrF Level | 4.5 — 8.0 |
Indian Writing in English: A Literary Journey from Colonial Roots to Global Recognition
Indian Writing in English represents one of the most vibrant and dynamic literary traditions in the world today. It is a rich tapestry woven from the threads of colonial history, linguistic negotiation, and the continuous search for a postcolonial identity. This unique body of work, produced by Indians writing in the English language, offers profound insights into the nation's soul, its conflicts, and its aspirations.
For students, scholars, and literature enthusiasts seeking a structured and academic exploration of this field, a comprehensive 12-week course offered by the Indian Institute of Technology Madras provides an unparalleled opportunity. Taught by Prof. Umasankar Patra, an expert in Modernism and Indian literary studies, this course delves deep into the evolution and major themes of Indian Writing in English.
Course Overview: Unpacking a Literary Tradition
This undergraduate/postgraduate level course, spanning 12 weeks, is designed to provide a holistic overview of Indian Writing in English from its late eighteenth-century origins to its contemporary global stature. It moves beyond a simple survey of texts to critically examine the very concepts of nation, language, identity, and belonging through various literary genres.
Intended Audience: This course is ideal for UG and PG students, faculty members, and anyone with a keen interest in understanding how Indian writers have shaped and been shaped by the English language to tell uniquely Indian stories.
Your Instructor: Prof. Umasankar Patra
Leading this intellectual journey is Prof. Umasankar Patra, Assistant Professor of English in the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences at IIT Madras. A recipient of prestigious fellowships like the Thomas W. Wilkins Fellowship and the Christopher Isherwood Foundation Fellowship, Prof. Patra brings his research expertise in Modernism, Modernity in India, Life Writing, and Queer Studies to enrich the exploration of Indian Writing in English.
Weekly Course Layout: A Thematic Deep Dive
The course is meticulously structured to guide learners from historical foundations to contemporary expressions. Here’s a week-by-week breakdown:
| Week | Focus Area & Key Topics |
|---|---|
| Week 1 | Context and Debates: Macaulay’s “Minutes on Education” and the introduction of English in India. |
| Week 2 | Historical Foundations: Early texts like Din Muhammad's The Travels of Dean Mahomet. |
| Week 3 | The Novel in India: Its transformation in regional languages and the rise of the Indian English novel. |
| Week 4 | Early Novel: A study of Bankim Chandra Chatterjee’s Rajmohan’s Wife. |
| Week 5 | R.K. Narayan: Exploring the quintessential "Indian" way of thinking in his works. |
| Week 6 | Indian English Poetry: Tracing its colonial roots to the modernist Bombay Poets. |
| Week 7 | Post-Independence Poetry: Deep dive into Arun Kolatkar, Jayanta Mahapatra, and Kamala Das. |
| Week 8 | Indian English Drama: Analysis of Mahesh Dattani’s seminal play Dance Like a Man. |
| Week 9 | Imaginary Homelands: Diaspora writings by Rohinton Mistry and Jhumpa Lahiri. |
| Week 10 | Nation and its Fragments I: The graphic novel Bhimayana by Durgabai Vyam and Subhash Vyam. |
| Week 11 | Nation and its Fragments II: Selections from Hansda Sowvendra Sekhar’s Adivasi Will Not Dance. |
| Week 12 | The Contemporary Scene: Examining popular fiction like Anuja Chouhan’s Those Pricey Thakur Girls. |
Key Learning Objectives and Debates
Throughout the 12 weeks, learners will engage with critical debates that define this literary field:
- The Language Debate: Examining the complex politics of writing in English in a postcolonial context.
- Nation and Narration: How novels and poetry have contributed to the imagining of the Indian nation.
- Identity and Belonging: Exploring themes of diaspora, marginalization, and gender in the literature.
- Genre Evolution: Understanding how traditional Indian storytelling adapted to Western forms like the novel and the sonnet.
Essential Reading and References
The course is supported by foundational scholarly texts that provide critical context. Key references include:
- Priyamvada Gopal’s The Indian English Novel: Nation, History and Narration
- Meenakshi Mukherjee’s The Perishable Empire: Essays on Indian Writing in English
- Selections from Priya Joshi’s In Another Country: Colonialism, Culture, and the English Novel in India
- Arvind Krishna Mehrotra’s An Illustrated History of Indian Writing in English
Why Enroll in This Course?
This course is more than a literature class; it is a lens to understand modern India. Whether you are a student of literature, history, or sociology, or simply a curious reader, this structured program from IIT Madras will equip you with:
- A comprehensive historical timeline of Indian Writing in English.
- Critical tools to analyze major texts and authors.
- An understanding of the socio-political debates embedded in the literature.
- Appreciation for the diversity of voices—from canonical to marginalized—that shape this tradition.
Embark on this 12-week journey to discover how Indian writers, wielding the English language, have created a powerful and enduring literary legacy that resonates both at home and across the globe.
Enroll Now →