Presents the Indian literatures, not in isolation in one another, but as related components in a larger complex, conspicuous by the existence of age-old multilingualism and a variety of literary traditions. --

This Volume, The First To Appear In The Ten Volume Series Published By The Sahitya Akademi, Deals With A Fascinating Period, Conspicuous By The Growing Complexities Of Multilingualism, Changes In The Modes Of Literary Transmission And In The Readership And Also By The Dominance Of The English Language As An Instrument Of Power In Indian Society.

Spectrum History Of Indian Literature In English Accomplishes The Task Of Historical Continuity By Linking With The Past The Most Recent Present Of The Writing In English By Indians. The Book Is A Highly Useful Supplement To The Earlier Two Volumes By K.R. Srinivas Iyengar And M.K. Naik. Articles By Jasbir Jain And Sunanda Mongia Are A Spectrum Presen¬Tation Of The Latest Developments In The Field Of Indian Fiction In English In All Its Technical & Thematological Innovations. Satish Aikant'S Article Provides A Serious Backdrop To The Volume By Deliberating Upon The Historicity Of English Studies In India, Their Need, Relevance And Epistemological Repercussions. R.K. Singh'S Article Does Well To Deconstruct The Myth That Good Poetry Is Published Only By The Established Publishers. His Account Of Little Or Less Known Indian Poets In English Is Both Critical And Historically Illuminating. Charu Sheel Singh, Shyam Asnani And Attiya Singh Discuss Indian English Poetry, Criticism, Drama And Fiction Respectively. Meena Sodhi'S Article Is A Good Compilation Of Indian Autobiographies, Mostly In English, Which She Discusses With Good Critical Sense And Perceptive Imagination. A.N. Dwivedi'S Article On Indian English Short Stories Is A Comprehensive And Balanced Piece Which Is Also Rich In Illustrations. The Two Appendices Add To The Value Of The Book By Cherishing Critical Attention On What May Be Called Tradition And Experiment In Indian English Poetry And Fiction. Whereas Satish K. Gupta'S Brief Piece Highlights Homogeneity In The Sensibility Of Aurobindo And Charu Sheel, It Takes Pains And Care To Chalk Out Differences In Mode, Manner And The Whole Presentation Idiom In The Latter'S Poetry From That Of Aurobindo. Krishan Mohan Pandey'S Account Of The Post-Modemist Reaction Against Gandhi In Indian Fiction In English Is Timely. It Reaffirms Faith In An Indian Critic'S Belief In What Tagore Once Said : I Cannot Love A God Who Does Not Give Me Freedom To Deny Him.

The present English translation is based on the original German work written by Professor Winternitz and has been revised in the light of further researches on the subject by different scholars in India and elsewhere. Vol. I relates to Veda (the four Samhitas), Brahmanas, Aranyakas, Upanisads, Vedangas and the Literature of the ritual. The Ramayana and the Mahabharata. Puranic literature and Tantra. Vol. II deals with the Buddhist Literature of India and the Jaina Literature. Vol. III covers Classical Sanskrit Literature comprising ornate Poetry, Drama, Narrative Literature, Grammar, Lexiocography, Philosophy, Dharma-Sastra, Artha-Sastra, Architecture, Music, Kama-Sutra, Ayurveda, Astronomy, Astrology and Mathematics.

Today, Indian writing in English is a fi eld of study that cannot be overlooked. Whereas at the turn of the 20th century, writers from India who chose to write in English were either unheeded or underrated, with time the literary world has been forced to recognize and accept their contribution to the corpus of world literatures in English. Showcasing the burgeoning field of Indian English writing, this encyclopedia documents the poets, novelists, essayists, and dramatists of Indian origin since the pre-independence era and their dedicated works. Written by internationally recognized scholars, this comprehensive reference book explores the history and development of Indian writers, their major contributions, and the critical reception accorded to them. The Routledge Encyclopedia of Indian Writing in English will be a valuable resource to students, teachers, and academics navigating the vast area of contemporary world literature.