The Role Of Socio-Cultural Criticism In Indian English Literature

Abstract The Indian English Literature has been constantly dealing with the intricate relationship between literature and society, culture, history and power, hence, Socio-cultural criticism takes a central position in the study of Indian English Literature. Literary texts by Indian English writers have not only captured social reality but also challenged caste systems, gender inequalities, colonialism, poverty, religious conflict, cultural conflict, modernity, globalization, migration and the evolving nature of Indian identity. In this article, the focus is on the socio-cultural criticism of selected writers of Indian English Literature such as Mulk Raj Anand, R. K. Narayan, Raja Rao, Anita Desai, Salman Rushdie, Arundhati Roy, Amitav Ghosh, Rohinton Mistry, Jhumpa Lahiri, and Kiran Desai. It suggests that in doing so, socio-cultural criticism can shed light on literature as a cultural document, as a place of ideological contestation, and as a site of visibility to the experiences of the margins. Caste, class, gender, nationalism, religion, language, tradition and modernity, diaspora, globalization and ecology have also been taken up into consideration in the discussion. To sum up, the study finds that socio-cultural criticism brings out a wider scope for literary interpretation by relating literary representation with the real life of Indian society and also by showcasing the role of Indian English Literature in the debate of the culture and the transformation of the society.