Volume VI Special Issue I January 2026

Name of Author : Norah Ruth Kumar

Title of the paper : From Colonial Imitation to Cultural Assertion: A Study of Contemporary Indian English Fiction

Abstract: The evolution of postcolonial Indian writing in English marks a remarkable transition from colonial imitation to confident expressions of cultural selfhood and hybrid identity. In the colonial and early post independence periods, Indian writers were influenced by Western literary conventions and linguistic dominance, often producing works that reflected superficial imitation rather than authentic representation. However, with the emergence of a new generation of writers led by Salman Rushdie, Amitav Ghosh, Vikram Seth, Shashi Tharoor, Anita Desai, and others Indian English fiction redefined its creative boundaries. These authors transformed English from a colonial instrument into a powerful medium of self assertion, cultural dialogue, and national identity. The contemporary Indian English novel now reflects hybridity, cosmopolitanism, and postcolonial consciousness, celebrating multiplicity and challenging Eurocentric narratives.

Keywords : Postcolonialism, Indian English Fiction, Cultural Assertion, Hybridity, Identity, Diaspora.

DOI :

Page Number : 110-114