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75 Best Indian Authors and their Books in English: The Must-Read List (2020 Update)

[Updated on 26-April-2020]

I’ve been trying to compile this list of Best Indian Authors in the English Language for a long time now. Every time I start, I get stuck up at zeroing in on the names.

There are so many great writers and novelists from India and of Indian origin, in the English language, that it is difficult to keep the list short.

Though I’m not a great fan of literary fictions and tend to incline towards mysteries and thrillers, I have tried my best to be unbiased and impartial.

While creating such lists, it is unavoidable to incline towards one’s preferences and tastes. If you are a fan of romance, you’d prefer Durjoy Dutta over Amish Tripathi; if you are a fan of humour, you’d prefer Sidin Vadukut over Ravinder Singh, and vice versa.

So, I decided to break down the list into different genres.

Also Read : 121 Best English Books by Indian Authors: The Definitive List (2024)

THE ALL-TIME GREATS OF INDIAN ENGLISH WRITING

TOP INDIAN LITERARY FICTION WRITERS

BEST HISTORIANS AND WRITERS OF HISTORY BOOKS FROM INDIA

BEST INDIAN AUTHORS OF RELIGIOUS/MYTHOLOGY BOOKS

BEST INDIAN AUTHORS OF HISTORICAL FICTION BOOKS

BEST MYTHOlOGICAL FICTION WRITERS IN INDIA

THE BEST WRITERS OF ROMANCE NOVELS IN INDIA

BEST MYSTERY AND THRILLER AUTHORS IN INDIA

TOP-MOST WRITERS OF SCI-FI/FANTASY NOVELS IN INDIA

BEST CHICK-LIT AUTHORS IN INDIA

BEST AUTHORS OF SELF-HELP AUTHORS IN INDIA

Also Read : 121 Best English Books by Indian Authors: The Definitive List (2018)

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About the Author

Father to Ahaana. Husband to Mayuri. Co-founder at bookGeeks. Engineer at BMM.

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Bhutan’s drukyul’s literature & arts festival to be back this august, spiritual novels: 7 best spiritual fiction books, swami vivekananda books | a list of 28 best books, related articles, kozhikode becomes india’s first unesco ‘city of literature’.

The Crimson Books

10 Best Indian Authors to Read Once in a Lifetime

Discover the literary treasures of India with our curated list of the ‘Best Indian Authors’ to read in 2024. From timeless classics to contemporary masterpieces, explore the diverse voices that have shaped Indian literature. Uncover the brilliance of renowned writers, their impactful storytelling, and the rich cultural tapestry woven into each narrative. Whether you’re a seasoned reader or a newcomer to Indian literature, this blog post is your guide to the must-read works that showcase the depth and beauty of Indian storytelling.

Books by Best Indian Authors

1. train to pakistan.

Ten million people—Muslims, Hindus, and Sikhs—were on the move when the new state of Pakistan was publicly established in the summer of 1947. Nearly a million of them had perished by the time the monsoon arrived, and everyone in northern India was either hiding, in fear, or in arms. A few small towns tucked away in the furthest corners of the boundary were the last remaining havens of tranquility. Mano Majra was a village among them.

At the outset of this timeless book, Khushwant Singh continues, “It is a place where Sikhs and Muslims have lived together in peace for hundreds of years.” The community gets its first taste of the horrors of the civil war when the “ghost train,” a silent, magnificent burial train filled with the dead of thousands of refugees, comes one day at the end of the summer. The narrative of this remote community submerged in a sea of religious hatred is told in Train to Pakistan. It also tells the tale of a Muslim girl and a Sikh boy whose love endures and surpasses the devastation caused by conflict.

Amazon | Bookshop.org

2. Midnight’s Children

On August 15, 1947, at exactly midnight, Saleem Sinai was born—the exact day India gained its independence. Saleem is welcomed by fireworks, enthusiastic spectators, and Prime Minister Nehru personally. However, when he becomes older, he discovers the sinister ramifications of this coincidence. His every action is reflected and amplified in circumstances that affect the direction of national affairs; his existence is intrinsically linked to the history of his country; and his health and well-being are inexorably linked to that of his nation. The telepathic abilities that connect him to the 1,000 other “midnight’s children” in India—all of whom were born in that first hour and possess magical abilities—are arguably the most amazing.

This book is a masterful expression of the universal human comedy that is also an intriguing family saga and an astounding evocation of a large region and its people. Even after four decades of publication, Midnight’s Children continues to be regarded as a seminal piece of fiction and a masterful reading by one of the greatest authors of our day.

3. A Suitable Boy

A Suitable Boy paints a broad, panoramic picture of a complicated, multiethnic society in transition by telling the tale of common people entangled in a web of love, ambition, humor, grief, prejudice, reconciliation, the most careful social graces, and the most horrific brutality.

The central theme of Vikram Seth’s book is love: it tells the story of Lata and her mother Mrs. Rupa Mehra’s search for a suitable boy for Lata, whether through strict parental evaluation or affection. This engrossing story immerses us in the vividly imagined world of four sizable extended families during the early 1950s in a newly independent India that is going through a difficult period. It tells a captivating account of their lives and loves.

4. The God of Small Things

The God of Small Things offers such magic, mystery, and sadness that, literally, this reader turned the last page and decided to reread it. Immediately. It’s that haunting. —USA Today

Arundhati Roy’s contemporary masterpiece, which has been compared favorably to the writings of Faulkner and Dickens, is a potent blend of political drama, forbidden love story, and dramatic family history. The arrival of their stunning baby cousin, Sophie, completely upends the world of the seven-year-old twins, Rahel and Estha. This incident will reveal “big things [that] lurk unsaid” in a nation teetering perilously near instability, as well as an illegal relationship and unintentional and intentional disasters.

The God of Small Things is a lush, lyrical, and unsettling Booker Prize winning classic that launched the author’s illustrious career of fiction and political criticism, which is still going strong today.

5. Partitions

Stunning debut book about uprooted kids and their escapes to safety, set in India during the bloody 1947 partition. As India is split into two countries, there is communal violence on both sides of the newly drawn boundary, and hordes of migrants are fleeing the chaos and bloodshed.

Twin Hindu boys Shankar and Keshav lose sight of their mother at an overrun rail station and join the throng of people searching for her. Simran Kaur, a young Sikh girl, has fled her father because he would sooner poison his daughter than see her violated.

And as he hobbles toward the newly formed Muslim nation of Pakistan, Ibrahim Masud, an aged Muslim physician, rediscovers his calling as a healer. He was driven from his hometown. This odd trio bands together as the displaced endure a range of tragedies, breaking every self-preservation guideline to create a hopeful future.

Partitions, a dramatic, brilliant tale of families and nations torn apart and rebuilt, presents a remarkable novelist with the power and elegance of a poet.

6. The Henna Artist

Captivated me from the first chapter to the final page. —Reese Witherspoon

The Henna Artist opens a gateway into a world that is simultaneously lush and interesting, stark and merciless. It does this through painting a vivid and captivating portrayal of one woman’s battle for fulfillment in a culture that is veering between the traditional and the modern.

Lakshmi, 17, leaves her violent marriage behind and travels alone to Jaipur, a brilliant pink city from the 1950s. There, she becomes the most sought-after henna artist and confidante among the upper-class, wealthy women. But she can never divulge her own as she is trusted with the wealthiest people’s secrets.

Lakshmi is well-known for her unique designs and wise counsel, but she has to exercise caution to stay away from envious rumors that could destroy her reputation and her business. One day, while she pursues her dream of living a self-sufficient existence, she is shocked to see her husband standing in front of her after all these years, bringing along a lively little girl who is her sister, a sister Lakshmi never knew she had.

All of a sudden, the prudence she has painstakingly cultivated as defense is called into question. She continues to persevere, using her gifts and encouraging everyone around her in the process.

7. Inglorious Empire

India’s economic contribution to the global economy was equal to that of Europe in the eighteenth century. After 200 years of British domination, by 1947, it had dropped six times. In addition to enslaving people and using deceit, the Empire also slaughtered defenseless protestors, blew up rebels with cannons, institutionalized bigotry, and starved millions of people.

Shashi Tharoor challenges British imperialism’s justification of itself as enlightened tyranny serving the interests of the governed by showing how every purported imperial “gift,” including the rule of law and the railways, was created only with Britain’s interests in mind.

He continues by demonstrating how India’s deindustrialization and the devastation of its textile sector served as the impetus for Britain’s Industrial Revolution. Tharoor uncovers the disgraceful truth of Britain’s tarnished Indian heritage with striking effect in this audacious and perceptive reevaluation of colonialism.

8. Annihilation of Caste

The political essay “Annihilation of Caste,” written by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, a well-known political figure, eminent jurist, Buddhist activist, philosopher, anthropologist, historian, orator, writer, economist, scholar, and editor, was first published in May 1936 and spoke out against the caste system and Hindu orthodox religious leaders.

Throughout his life, Dr. Ambedkar battled for the rights of the Dalits and other socially oppressed groups, as well as the abolition of societal evils like untouchability. Jawaharlal Nehru chose Dr. Ambedkar as India’s first Law Minister in his Cabinet. 1990 saw the posthumous awarding of India’s highest civilian accolade, the “Bharat Ratna.”

One of the most important—yet little-known—pieces of Indian political literature is this one. It is a fearless critique of Hinduism and the caste structure. Ambedkar provides an academic analysis of Hindu texts, which support a rigidly hierarchical and immoral societal structure. Mahatma Gandhi, the most well-known Hindu in the world, openly addressed the provocation.

9. The Night Diary

A gripping, nuanced story of the human cost of conflict appropriate for both children and adults. -Kirkus, starred review

A moving, intimate, and hopeful story of India’s partition and one girl’s quest to find a new home in a split nation, in the style of Inside Out and Back Again and The War That Saved My Life.

1947 saw the division of India, which had just gained independence from British domination, into Pakistan and India. Thousands of people are killed crossing borders each year as a result of the division that has heightened tensions between Muslims and Hindus.

Half Hindu, half Muslim Nisha, twelve, no longer knows what her nation is or where she belongs. Nisha and her family flee to Pakistan after Papa determines it is too dangerous for them to remain there. Initially, they go by train, but eventually, they walk to their new home.

Nisha can’t imagine losing her homeland as well, especially after losing her mother when she was a kid. The journey is lengthy, challenging, and hazardous. Despite the fact that her nation has been destroyed, Nisha maintains hope that she will be able to rebuild herself.

The Night Diary, narrated through Nisha’s letters to her mother, is a poignant account of a young girl’s search for her own identity, her home, and a bright future.

10. The Namesake

Dazzling…An intimate, closely observed family portrait. —The New York Times

Meet the Ganguli family, recent Calcutta immigrants who are yearning to return home despite their best efforts to assimilate into American society.

The name they give their newborn child, Gogol, represents all the tensions that arise from upholding tradition in a foreign land—tensions that will follow Gogol throughout his own tortuous journey through betrayed allegiance, hilarious digressions, and heartbreaking love affairs.

Pulitzer Prize winner Jhumpa Lahiri masterfully captures the experience of immigration and the complex relationships across generations in her book The Namesake.

More Historical Fiction Books

• The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner

The Things We Cannot Say by Kelly Rimmer

• The Hotel Nantucket by Elin Hilderbrand

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About the Author

TCB Team is a dedicated group of individuals who are passionate about literature and committed to critically analyzing and evaluating various literary works. The team consist of diverse members with varying backgrounds, interests, and expertise, which allows for a comprehensive and multifaceted assessment of books across different genres and themes.

Our primary goal is to provide insightful and unbiased reviews that help readers make informed decisions about their reading choices and contribute to the broader discourse surrounding literature.

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The following post-independence books have served as important literary markers:

Fiction, Poetry & Drama Agha Shahid Ali,  The Veiled Suite: Collected Poems  (Penguin, 2009) Sarnath Banerjee,  Corridor  (Penguin, 2004) Samit Basu,  The GameWorld Trilogy: The Simoqin Prophecies, The Manticore's Secret, The Unwaba Revelations  (Penguin, 2004–7)  Upamanyu Chatterjee,  English, August  (Faber & Faber, 1988) Vikram Chandra,  Red Earth and Pouring Rain  (Faber & Faber, 1995) Amit Chaudhuri,  A Strange and Sublime Address  (Vintage, 1999) Chandrahas Choudhury,  Arzee the Dwarf  (HarperCollins, 2009) Keki Daruwalla,  Collected Poems 1970–2005  (Penguin, 2006) Rana Dasgupta,  Solo  (HarperCollins, 2009) Mahesh Dattani,  Collected Plays , 2 vols. (Penguin, 2000) Siddhartha Deb,  The Point of Return  (Picador, 2002) Anita Desai,  In Custody  (Harper & Row, 1984) Kiran Desai,  The Inheritance of Loss  (Penguin, 2006) Shashi Deshpande,  Collected Stories , 2 vols. (Penguin, 2003–4) Amitav Ghosh,  The Circle of Reason  (Viking, 1986) Sunetra Gupta,  The Glassblower’s Breath  (Orion, 1993) Indrajit Hazra,  The Burnt Forehead of Max Saul  (Ravi Dayal, 2000) Manju Kapur,  Difficult Daughters  (Faber & Faber, 1998) Mukul Kesavan,  Looking Through Glass  (Ravi Dayal, 1995) Arun Kolatkar,  Jejuri  (Pras Prakashan & NYRB Classics, 1976/2006) Jhumpa Lahiri,  Interpreter of Maladies  (Mariner, 1999) Jayanta Mahapatra,  The Lie of Dawns: Poems 1974–2008  (AuthorsPress, 2009) Rohinton Mistry,  Such a Long Journey  (Faber & Faber, 1991) Dom Moraes,  Collected Poems 1954–2004  (Penguin, 2004) Bharati Mukherjee,  The Middleman and Other Stories  (Ballantine, 1988) A. K. Ramanujan,  The Collected Poems  (Oxford, 1995) Anuradha Roy,  An Atlas of Impossible Longing  (Picador, 2008) Arundhati Roy,  The God of Small Things  (HarperCollins/Flamingo, 1997) Salman Rushdie,  Midnight’s Children  (Avon, 1980) Sudeep Sen,  Postmarked India: New and Selected Poems  (HarperCollins, 1997) Vikram Seth,  The Golden Gate  (Faber & Faber, 1986) Khushwant Singh,  Train to Pakistan  (Grove/Roli, 1956/2006) Tarun J. Tejpal,  The Alchemy of Desire  (Picador, 2005) Shashi Tharoor,  The Great Indian Novel  (Penguin, 1989)

Anthologies Rukun Advani, ed.,  Written For Ever: The Best of Civil Lines  (Viking, 2009) Meena Alexander, ed.,  Indian Love Poems  (Knopf, 2005) Neelanjana Banerjee, Summi Kaipa, and Pireeni Sundaralingam, eds.,  Indivisible  (University of Arkansas Press, 2010) Tina Chang, Nathalie Handal, and Ravi Shankar, eds.,  Language for a New Century  (Norton, 2008) Amit Chaudhuri, ed.,  The Picador Book of Modern Indian Literature  (Picador, 2001) Adil Jussawalla, ed.,  New Writing in India  (Penguin, 1974) Amitava Kumar, ed.,  Away: The Indian Writer as an Expatriate  (Penguin, 2003) M. Lal & S. P. Kumar, eds.,  Speaking for Myself: An Anthology of Asian Women’s Writing  (Penguin/IIC, 2009) A. K. Mehrotra, ed.,  Twelve Modern Indian Poets  (Oxford, 1992) R. Parthasarathy, ed.,  Ten Twentieth Century Indian Poets  (Oxford, 1976) Nilanjana S. Roy, ed.,  A Matter of Taste: The Penguin Book of Indian Food Writing  (Penguin, 2004) Salman Rushdie & Elizabeth West, eds.,  The Vintage Book of Indian Writing 1947–1997  (Vintage, 1997) Sudeep Sen, ed.,  The HarperCollins Book of Modern English Poetry by Indians  (HarperCollins, 2010)

Nonfiction & Criticism Nirad C. Chaudhuri,  The Autobiography of an Unknown Indian  (Macmillan/Picador, 1951/1999) Kamala Das,  My Story  (DC Books/HarperCollins, 1988/2004) Leela Gandhi,  Postcolonial Theory  (Oxford, 1998) Amitav Ghosh,  The Imam and the Indian  (Ravi Dayal/Permanent Black, 2002) Pico Iyer,  The Global Soul  (Bloomsbury, 2000) Akshaya Kumar,  Poetry, Politics and Culture: Essays on Indian Texts and Contexts  (Routledge, 2009) Suketu Mehta,  Maximum City: Bombay Lost & Found  (Viking, 2004) Pankaj Mishra,  Temptations of the West  (Picador/Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 2006) Meenakshi Mukherjee,  The Perishable Empire: Essays on Indian Writing in English  (Oxford, 2000) V. S. Naipaul,  India: A Million Mutinies Now  (Heinemann, 1990) Ira Pande,  Diddi: My Mother’s Voice  (Penguin, 2005) Leila Seth,  On Balance  (Viking, 2003) Abraham Verghese,  My Own Country  (Phoenix, 1994)

Literary/Cultural Magazines & Webzines Atlas, Biblio, Book Review, Caravan, Chandrabhaga, Civil Lines, Hindu Literary Review, Indian Literature, International Gallerie, Kavya Bharati, Kritya, Little Magazine, Muse India, New Quest, Poetry International Web, Talking Poetry,  and others.

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‘The Book of Indian Essays’ review: Inside the club compound

A look at the organising principles and the writers chosen by arvind krishna mehrotra for an anthology of indian essays in english that covers over 200 years.

Updated - February 14, 2021 01:09 pm IST

Published - February 13, 2021 04:22 pm IST

The sub-heading of this book is ‘Two Hundred Years of English Prose’, and as you begin to flip the pages you understand that this means non-fiction pieces in English written by Indians. For a moment after that you find yourself noting the preponderance of Bengali names in the contents pages. Of the 45 pieces of prose collected here, 14 are by Bengalis, 15 if you count Ram Guha as an honorary Bong. From a Calcuttan’s p.o.v this is a paltry 30% strike rate. To be fair, this over-representation isn’t the fault of the Bengalis/Kolkataiyas: what were they to do if other desis slouched for a hundred years before picking up the auxiliary Bengali language called English?

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Arvind Mehrotra has included a couple of gems here from the 19th and early 20th centuries, such as Shoshee Chunder Dutt’s witty compilation of Calcutta street-vendors’ calls and Rabindranath Tagore’s succinct challenge to the very idea of a nation. For an example of genuine Bengali cosmopolitanism you can’t do better than Buddhadeb Bose’s lovely recounting of visiting Henry Miller in California in the mid-50s. In contrast there is Ashok Mitra’s superb rendering of a deeply local Calcutta life in ‘An Ordinary Man’. Besides these pieces there are many other lovely bits of writing to be found in the book, by both Bengalis and the non-blessed. However, the more you read more the questions start to bubble up about the organising principle of the anthology and the selection Mehrotra has made.

Many exceptions

“...it was decided to restrict this anthology as far as possible to ‘Indian’ writers. Literary geography, unfortunately, had to be mapped on to the political one, but only loosely,” writes Mehrotra in his introduction, explaining why he has left out people such as Ved Mehta, Salman Rushdie and Vikram Chandra while having “allowed in” Santha Rama Rau and Victor Anant.

This doesn’t hold water: if a certain weight of residence in India was a serious criterion for inclusion then not only Rau and Anant but also Aubrey Menen, Amrita Sher-Gil, Nirad Chaudhuri, G.V. Desani, F.N. Souza, Madhur Jaffrey, Anita Desai, Dom Moraes (at the time of writing), Chitrita Banerji, Amitav Ghosh and Sara Rai, i.e. nearly one third of the writers, are exceptions to the ‘rule’.

As with other aspects of the selection, this codification begins to feel more arbitrary than ‘loose’ in a way that doesn’t enhance the quality of the collection.

Mehrotra also explains the exclusion of political essays and of someone like Arundhati Roy thus: “Political writing is urgent but it is soon replaced by something as urgent the next day... we need it more than ever before; but so do we, as urgently, the essays in this anthology.” This claim to urgency leads to a bit of head-scratching because it’s not as if very many of the essays throw other kinds of sharp light on our current reality. Mehrotra claims various serendipitous connections between different essays but the one ‘link’ that emerges is his fondness for novelistic family memoirs, of which there are several. These pieces read like slight variations on the same theme; of the eight, all are to do with the middle or upper class, seven are filled with cousin sadnesses, six are to do with urban north India, only one is not set in middle of the 20th century. Such a bloc do these pieces form that one wonders if it might not have been an idea to do a collection solely devoted to these sort of dissections of the peculiarities of Indian kinship.

Way with words

Arbitrariness also seeps in from yet a different angle. The first two-thirds of the anthology has a certain tenor, a certain way in which the English is used. With the brilliant exception of G.V. Desani’s ‘The Benares that Was’ — where Desani cracks open the language as only he can — and also Dharma Kumar’s light way with her words, there is a similarity to the smooth rounded prose so respectful of British cadences, a far cry from the photographs of Walker Evans and the paintings of Cezanne that Mehrotra cites in his introduction, more the written equivalent of Rubens and Ravi Varma. Perhaps the anthology should have ended with the piece by Chitrita Banerji who was born in 1947.

Mehrotra is one of the most generous intellects in the Indian world of letters. Therefore, it is mystifying to see the parsimony and timidity of his choices as we come to our own times.

It’s as though Mehrotra’s great erudition has been denied a proper visa into the zone of contemporary Indian writing in English. With the exception of Allan Sealy on the Anglo-Indians, Mukul Kesavan’s delicious evisceration of the Indian male and Sara Rai’s extremely moving memoir ‘On Not Writing’, the array of usual suspects and some truly bizarre choices is disappointing. It’s not only the NRIs, Mehta and Rushdie et al who have been banished outside the club compound. How do you have an anthology of Indian essays in English that includes not even one writer from Paromita Vohra, Kai Friese, Ambarish Satwik, Rahul Bhattacharya, Samanth Subramanian, Snigdha Poonam, Raghu Karnad or Aman Sethi?

The Book of Indian Essays ; Edited by Arvind Krishna Mehrotra, Black Kite/Hachette India,₹699.

The reviewer is a filmmaker and columnist.

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• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Black Kite (12 November 2020); Hachette Book Publishing India Pvt Ltd
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Famous Essayists from India

List of notable or famous essayists from India, with bios and photos, including the top essayists born in India and even some popular essayists who immigrated to India. If you're trying to find out the names of famous Indian essayists then this list is the perfect resource for you. These essayists are among the most prominent in their field, and information about each well-known essayist from India is included when available.

The list you're viewing has a variety of people in it, like Ramdhari Singh Dinkar and Amrita Pritam.

This historic essayists from India list can help answer the questions "Who are some Indian essayists of note?" and "Who are the most famous essayists from India?" These prominent essayists of India may or may not be currently alive, but what they all have in common is that they're all respected Indian essayists.

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Amrita Pritam

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Makhanlal Chaturvedi

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• Birthplace : Babai, Madhya Pradesh, India

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Indian literature , writings of the Indian subcontinent , produced there in a variety of vernacular languages, including Sanskrit , Prakrit , Pali , Bengali , Bihari , Gujarati , Hindi , Kannada , Kashmiri , Malayalam , Oriya , Punjabi , Rajasthani , Tamil , Telugu , Urdu , Lahnda , Siraiki , and Sindhi , among others, as well as in English . The term Indian literature is used here to refer to literature produced across the Indian subcontinent prior to the creation of the Republic of India in 1947 and within the Republic of India after 1947.

A brief treatment of Indian literature follows. For a fuller treatment, see South Asian arts: Literature . See also Islamic arts: Islamic literatures , India: The arts , Pakistan: The arts , and Bangladesh: The arts .

The earliest Indian literature took the form of the canonical Hindu sacred writings, known as the Veda , which were written in Sanskrit. To the Veda were added prose commentaries such as the Brahmanas and the Upanishads . The production of Sanskrit literature extended from about 1500 bce to about 1000 ce and reached its height of development in the 1st to 7th centuries ce . In addition to sacred and philosophical writings, such genres as erotic and devotional lyrics, court poetry , plays, and narrative folktales emerged.

Because Sanskrit was identified with the Brahminical religion of the Vedas, Buddhism and Jainism adopted other literary languages (Pali and Ardhamagadhi, respectively). From these and other related languages emerged the modern languages of northern India. The literature of those languages depended largely on the ancient Indian background, which includes two Sanskrit epic poems, the Mahabharata and Ramayana , as well as the Bhagavata-purana and the other Puranas . In addition, the Sanskrit philosophies were the source of philosophical writing in the later literatures, and the Sanskrit schools of rhetoric were of great importance for the development of court poetry in many of the modern literatures. The South Indian language of Tamil is an exception to this pattern of Sanskrit influence because it had a classical tradition of its own. Urdu and Sindhi are other exceptions.

Beginning in the 19th century, particularly during the height of British control over the subcontinent, Western literary models had an impact on Indian literature, the most striking result being the introduction of the use of vernacular prose on a major scale . Such forms as the novel and short story began to be adopted by Indian writers, as did realism and an interest in social questions and psychological description. A tradition of literature in English was also established in the subcontinent.

Articles on individual literatures of the Indian subcontinent not specified above include Pali literature , Bengali literature , Gujarati literature , Hindi literature , Kannada literature , Punjabi literature , Tamil literature , Telugu literature , Urdu literature , and Sindhi literature .

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English literature essays, indian women writers.

by Sherin Koshy

The Vedas cry aloud, the Puranas shout; "No good may come to a woman." I was born with a woman's body How am I to attain truth? "They are foolish, seductive, deceptive - Any connection with a woman is disastrous." Bahina says, "If a woman's body is so harmful, How in the world will I reach truth?" [Bahinabai (1682-1700)]

Much of the world's literature has been dominated by a canon that nearly dismissed women's writing more than two centuries ago. The counter-canons that have emerged as the result of this exclusion have helped to establish women's writing in mainstream culture, but still in some ways fail to acknowledge women's literature coming from non-white countries. This essay is an attempt to highlight some of the works produced by women in India over the ages. Although India has a history of ancient civilisations such as the Harappa and Mohenjodaro, and of matrilineal societies in the south, no written records of women's literary prowess exists predating the 6th century BC. The emergence of the first body of poetry by women in India could be attributed to the advent of Buddhism. Perhaps it was the freedom offered by the religion, the way of life it offered to women, and the principle of equality that it propagated which allowed women to pen their thoughts for the first time. Buddhism offered women the opportunity to break away from the restrictions of home life, a major factor in the rise of Indian women's literature in the early 6th century BC. The earliest known anthology of women's literature in India has been identified as those belonging to the Therigatha nuns, the poets being contemporaries of the Buddha. One of these, Mutta, writes,

Mutta's works, translated from Pali, offer an explanation through their interpretation. Religious escapism was the only way out for many women who were frustrated with a life inside the home. They chose to join the Buddhist sangha (religious communities) in their attempts to break away from the social world of tradition and marriage. Thus emerged poems and songs about what it meant to be free from household chores and sexual slavery. Although the early forms of writing addressed the issue of personal freedom, the poetry that followed later was a celebration of womanhood and sexuality. The Sangam poets that dominated the era between ca. 100 BC-AD 250 wrote extensively about what it meant to have a female body. The translation of Venmanipputi Kuruntokai's 'What she said to her girlfriend' reads,

The content of the poem is bold for its time because it is expressing a woman's pleasure in sex. The poems written around this age echo a sense of sexual liberation. S. S. Kalpana says that the 'commentaries that accompany these poems mention songs women used to sing while transplanting seedlings, drawing water and husking paddy' [Tharu and Lalita p.71]. Women apparently sang to keep vigil on the ripening grain and to ward off spirits. These songs took the form of poetry when written down. According to A. K. Ramanujan, who translated most of the poems of the Sangam age, disparities in gender are evident in the way women have written about their experiences. Some of the poems echo the need for bodily love and passion, the foolishness of war and the 'spears' that men left with to wage wars. The ten anthologies and eight long poems of the Sangam age are the oldest and most prominent body of secular poetry extant in India. According to S. S. Kalpana, the absence of mythological references and Sanskrit words suggests the possibility that they were written before the Aryan take-over of northern India. This was also the time when the University of Nalanda was set up (c.a. 100 BC), which opened its doors on an equal basis to women. Most of the university records have been lost, but one can assume that the women scholars contributed to the expanding body of literature Among the poets who wrote in the 12th century AD came the medieval Kannada poet, rebel and mystic, Akkamahadevi, whose life and writing challenged the patriarchal dominance of the world at large. She is supposed to have wandered naked in search of divinity. The spread of Buddhism and the rapid acceptance of Islam forced Hinduism to rethink the caste system. As Hinduism underwent a revision of spirituality and basked in the new-found outlook of the Bhakti movement, so did the men and women associated with the religion. This is evident in Akkamahadevi's writing as she uses the image of her body to defy her critics when she says,

As a radical mystic it is no surprise that she uses the image of her genitals to convey her understanding of the Bhakti tradition and the Hindu idea of rebirth when she says,

Another poet of the Bhakti tradition was Sule Sankavva, who according to Vijaya Dabbe wrote poetry that could startle contemporary sensibility with its combination of the sacrosanct and the sacrilegious. Writing as a prostitute, her sentiments about the duplicity of society at large are strongly echoed in her only surviving poem, in which she says,

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Aspects of Indian writing in English : essays in honour of Professor K. R. Srinivasa Iyengar

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The Indian Imagination

Critical Essays on Indian Writing in English

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Postmodern philosophy of history and reading its traces in postcolonial (re)writing.

• critical theory
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Table of contents (11 chapters)

Front matter, indian writing in english: structure of consciousness, literary history and critical theory, sri aurobindo as a poet: a reassessment, the social and political vision of sri aurobindo, sri aurobindo as a critic, mulk raj anand: a reappraisal, ideological confrontation and synthesis in mulk raj anand’s conversations in bloomsbury, balachandra rajan’s the dark dancer: a critical reading, myth and imagery in nissim ezekiel’s the unfinished man: a critical reading, humanity defrauded: notes toward a reading of anita desai’s baumgartner’s bombay, alienation, identity and structure in arun joshi’s the apprentice, the metaphysics and metastructure of appearance and reality in arun joshi’s the last labyrinth, back matter, about the author, bibliographic information.

Book Title : The Indian Imagination

Book Subtitle : Critical Essays on Indian Writing in English

Authors : K. D. Verma

DOI : https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-61823-1

Publisher : Palgrave Macmillan New York

eBook Packages : Palgrave Literature & Performing Arts Collection , Literature, Cultural and Media Studies (R0)

Copyright Information : Palgrave Macmillan, a division of Nature America Inc. 2000

Hardcover ISBN : 978-0-312-21139-4 Published: 03 June 2000

eBook ISBN : 978-1-349-61823-1 Published: 30 April 2016

Edition Number : 1

Number of Pages : XIII, 268

Topics : Postcolonial/World Literature , Fiction , Cultural Studies , Imperialism and Colonialism , Twentieth-Century Literature

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The Literature Times

Top Literary Magazines in India to Submit Writing

Table of Contents

Introduction: Literary Magazines in India

Literary magazines in India have long been a beacon of creative expression, providing a platform for both emerging and established writers to share their work with a broader audience. These literary gems are not only a testament to the rich literary heritage of the country but also an avenue for showcasing the diverse voices and stories that make up the cultural tapestry of India. From their humble beginnings to their influential present, Indian literary magazines have played a pivotal role in shaping the literary landscape of the nation.

The Evolution of Indian Literary Magazines

The journey of Indian literary magazines began several decades ago, with the first wave of magazines dedicated to literature and culture emerging during the colonial era. Over the years, these magazines evolved to reflect the changing social and political landscape of the country. What started as platforms for showcasing poetry, short stories, and essays have now expanded to include translations, experimental writing, and pieces that delve into contemporary issues.

In recent times, the advent of technology has brought about a new era for literary magazines in India . The rise of online platforms has not only made literary magazines in India more accessible to a global audience but has also enabled a wider range of voices to be heard. This digital transformation has given writers the opportunity to submit their work electronically, easing the process of getting published and encouraging a more inclusive literary space.

Read our new blog: Self Publishing a Book

Why Submit to Literary Magazines?

Opening doors to visibility.

Submitting your writing to Indian literary magazines can be a game-changer for writers seeking recognition. Literary magazines offer a platform where your work can be discovered by readers, agents, and publishers. If your piece gets published in a reputable magazine, it could potentially catch the eye of industry professionals looking for fresh voices.

Refining Your Craft

The editorial process of literary magazines can provide invaluable feedback to help you improve your writing skills. Editors often work closely with writers to refine their work, providing insights and suggestions that can contribute to your growth as a writer.

• Getting Featured in Magazines
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Top Literary Magazines to Submit Writing in India

1. granta india.

As a branch of the renowned Granta magazine, Granta India is dedicated to curating and presenting contemporary Indian writing in all its forms. Its pages host a vibrant mix of fiction, non-fiction, and poetry that reflects the multifaceted cultural landscape of India. Granta India serves as a platform for both emerging and established writers to share their perspectives, stories, and experiences. With its finger on the pulse of modern Indian literature, Granta India continues to foster literary excellence and offer readers a window into the rich tapestry of Indian narratives.

2. The Caravan

Blending journalism and literature seamlessly, The Caravan is a literary magazine that delivers long-form essays, reportage, and literary pieces that tackle a wide range of topics. Known for its commitment to in-depth exploration, The Caravan provides a platform for incisive analysis, thought-provoking narratives, and literary prowess. This magazine welcomes submissions that transcend boundaries, offering both writers and readers a chance to engage with narratives that reflect the complexities of contemporary society.

3. Out of Print

Celebrating the experimental and the translated, Out of Print serves as a hub for writers and readers interested in exploring innovative literary forms. The magazine specializes in publishing fiction, essays, and poetry that challenge conventions and push the boundaries of language and narrative. By providing a space for work that might otherwise go unnoticed, Out of Print contributes to the evolution of literature in India by introducing readers to new voices and perspectives.

4. Indian Quarterly

With its diverse array of genres, Indian Quarterly offers readers a holistic literary experience. This magazine features fiction, poetry, essays, and interviews that span a wide spectrum of themes and styles. From introspective explorations to societal commentaries, Indian Quarterly aims to capture the essence of Indian literary creativity and provide a platform for writers to express their thoughts and imaginations.

5. Himal Southasian

Sitting at the crossroads of politics, culture, and literature, Himal Southasian is a unique platform that encourages critical thinking and nuanced perspectives. This magazine engages with regional voices and narratives that often remain untold, fostering dialogue and understanding across South Asia. With an array of content that includes essays, poetry, fiction, and more, Himal Southasian is a vital bridge between literature and the socio-political discourse of the region.

6. The Bombay Literary Magazine

Bridging literature and visual art, The Bombay Literary Magazine offers an innovative approach to contemporary poetry. By exploring the interplay between words and visuals, this magazine provides a space for poets and artists to collaborate and create unique expressions. The magazine’s commitment to experimenting with form and content makes it an exciting avenue for those seeking to engage with the intersection of art and literature.

7. Papercuts

Showcasing emerging voices from South Asia, Papercuts is a literary magazine that thrives on introducing readers to new genres, styles, and perspectives. Through its commitment to diversity, Papercuts invites submissions that reflect the dynamic literary scene of the region. Whether it’s short stories, flash fiction, or creative non-fiction, Papercuts provides a platform for writers to explore the myriad facets of storytelling.

8. The Little Magazine

Embodying the spirit of independence, The Little Magazine is a space where poetry, fiction, essays, and translations come together to form a tapestry of literary expression. The magazine values creative freedom and diversity, showcasing a wide range of voices that contribute to the ever-evolving landscape of Indian literature.

Read our new blog: How to Find a Publisher for Your Book

9. Muse India

Operating as an online literary magazine, Muse India curates poetry, fiction, and critical essays from Indian writers. By offering a digital platform, Muse India has the ability to reach a global audience and showcase the depth and breadth of Indian literary talent. The magazine’s dedication to fostering intellectual discourse and creative exploration is evident in the range of genres it features.

10. Vayavya

Celebrating linguistic diversity, Vayavya is a multilingual magazine that publishes works in various Indian languages. By providing a platform for regional voices, Vayavya showcases the richness of Indian literature beyond the confines of a single language. With genres ranging from poetry to essays, Vayavya highlights the unique narratives that emerge from different linguistic traditions.

How to Submit Your Writing to Literary Magazines

• Research: Explore the magazines to find the one that aligns with your genre and style.
• Read Guidelines: Carefully read the submission guidelines on their websites to understand their requirements.
• Prepare Your Work: Edit and format your work as per their guidelines.
• Compose a Cover Letter: Write a concise cover letter introducing yourself and your submission.
• Submit: Follow their submission process, which usually involves emailing your work along with the cover letter.
• Wait Patiently: Literary magazines receive numerous submissions, so be patient while waiting for a response.

Read our blog: Top Self Publishing Companies in India

Submitting your writing to Indian literary magazines can be a fulfilling step on your writing journey. It can help you reach a wider audience, receive constructive feedback, and potentially open doors to further opportunities in the literary world. You can try submitting to these literary magazines. Embrace the process, refine your craft, and let your voice resonate through the pages of these esteemed magazines.

Magazines are the best option to publish short contents. May it be a short story or a poem or an article, the top indian literary magazines accept them all. If you have a good enough content, you can arrange them as a book and can publish it. There are many traditional publishers in India waiting for good and unique content. If not traditional publishers, you may go for self publishing easily. Check for cost of self publishing in India in our latest blog.

Hope you find this article useful. Don’t forget to put your comments and feedback. Each magazine offers a unique lens through which to view the diverse literary landscape of India, making it a worthy endeavor to share your work and be a part of this vibrant literary conversation.

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Essay on India For Students and Children

500+ words essay on india.

India is a great country where people speak different languages but the national language is Hindi. India is full of different castes, creeds, religion, and cultures but they live together. That’s the reasons India is famous for the common saying of “ unity in diversity “. India is the seventh-largest country in the whole world.

Geography and Culture

India has the second-largest population in the world. India is also knowns as Bharat, Hindustan and sometimes Aryavart. It is surrounded by oceans from three sides which are Bay Of Bengal in the east, the Arabian Sea in the west and Indian oceans in the south. Tiger is the national animal of India. Peacock is the national bird of India. Mango is the national fruit of India. “ Jana Gana Mana ” is the national anthem of India . “Vande Mataram” is the national song of India. Hockey is the national sport of India. People of different religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism , Jainism, Sikhism, Islam, Christianity and Judaism lives together from ancient times. India is also rich in monuments, tombs, churches, historical buildings, temples, museums, scenic beauty, wildlife sanctuaries , places of architecture and many more. The great leaders and freedom fighters are from India.

F lag of India

The indian flag has tricolors.

The first color that is uppermost color in the flag which is the saffron color, stands for purity. The second color i.e. the middle color in the flag is the white color and it stands for peace. The third color that is the lowest color in the flag is the green color and it stands for fertility. The white color has an Ashoka Chakra of blue color on it. Ashoka Chakra contains twenty-four spokes which are equally divided. India has 29 states and 7 union territories.

Follow this link to get a Physical and state-wise Map of India

My Favorite States from India are as follows –

Rajasthan itself has a glorious history. It is famous for many brave kings, their deeds, and their art and architecture. It has a sandy track that’s why the nuclear test was held here. Rajasthan is full of desert, mountain range, lakes, dense forest, attractive oases, and temples, etc. Rajasthan is also known as “Land Of Sacrifice”. In Rajasthan, you can see heritage things of all the kings who ruled over there and for that, you can visit Udaipur, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Chittaurgarh, etc.

Madhya Pradesh

Madhya Pradesh is bigger than a foreign (Italy) country and smaller than Oman. It also has tourists attractions for its places. In Madhya Pradesh, you can see temples, lakes, fort, art and architecture, rivers, jungles, and many things. You can visit in Indore, Jabalpur, Ujjain, Bhopal, Gwalior and many cities. Khajuraho, Sanchi Stupa, Pachmarhi, Kanha national park, Mandu, etc. are the places must visit.

Jammu and Kashmir

Jammu and Kashmir are known as heaven on earth . We can also call Jammu and Kashmir as Tourists Paradise. There are many places to visit Jammu and Kashmir because they have an undisturbed landscape, motorable road, beauty, lying on the banks of river Jhelum, harmony, romance, sceneries, temples and many more.

In Jammu and Kashmir, u can enjoy boating, skiing, skating, mountaineering, horse riding, fishing, snowfall, etc. In Jammu and Kashmir, you can see a variety of places such as Srinagar, Vaishnav Devi, Gulmarg, Amarnath, Patnitop, Pahalgam, Sonamarg, Lamayuru, Nubra Valley, Hemis, Sanasar,  Anantnag,  Kargil, Dachigam National Park, Pulwama, Khilanmarg, Dras, Baltal, Bhaderwah, Pangong Lake, Magnetic Hill, Tso Moriri, Khardung La, Aru Valley, Suru Basin,Chadar Trek, Zanskar Valley, Alchi Monastery, Darcha Padum Trek, Kishtwar National Park, Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary, Nyoma, Dha Hanu, Uleytokpo, Yusmarg, Tarsar Marsar Trek and many more.

It is known as the ‘God’s Own Country’, Kerala is a state in India, situated in the southwest region, it is bordered by a number of beaches; covered by hills of Western Ghats and filled with backwaters, it is a tourist destination attracting people by its natural beauty. The most important destinations which you can see in Kerela are the museum, sanctuary, temples, backwaters, and beaches. Munnar, Kovalam, Kumarakom, and Alappad.

India is a great country having different cultures, castes, creed, religions but still, they live together. India is known for its heritage, spices, and of course, for people who live here. That’s the reasons India is famous for the common saying of “unity in diversity”. India is also well known as the land of spirituality , philosophy, science, and technology.

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All India Essay Contest of Department of Atomic Energy

26 august 2024, 02:00 pm ist.

Representational image | Photo: Canva

Department of Atomic Energy DAE, Government of India has invited entries for the All India Essay Contest on Nuclear Science & Technology.

The Essay Contest comprises a written essay and an oral presentation before a panel of judges at DAE, Mumbai.

Topic: Essay can be written on any one of the topics (A, B or C) by a single author only. Topics: A - Journey of Nuclear Power in India - past, present and future; B -Societal applications of Radioisotope and Radiation Technologies for Viksit Bharat; C- Importance of Laser, Plasma and Accelerator Technologies for a Self-Reliant India. The outline for each is given in the Notification at https://dae.gov.in/ (Important matters and events link)

Essay Structure: The length of essay should not exceed 2000 words. Each essay should give brief introduction about the multifarious achievements of DAE in Basic Sciences and Nuclear Technology and their use for overall societal benefits in the country. It should comprise of an introduction (max. of 350 words), detailed essay (max. of 1500 words) and conclusion (max. of 150 words). Evaluation criteria to include originality, style, language.

Eligibility: Applicants should be regular full time students doing graduation in India (after 10+2), in any discipline, in an Indian University. Engineering/Medical/IIT students etc. if studying in their 4th year are also eligible. Students who have completed their graduation are not eligible to participate in this contest. However, students who have appeared for their final year exam and are awaiting results, which should not have been announced before 29th August 2024, can participate.

Each student should submit readable handwritten essay only, in any official Indian Language. A participant should submit only one essay on any one topic only. The handwritten essay, scanned and saved as PDF file, on only one topic should be sent to [email protected] with a subject as ‘Submission of Essay’. The file name should be the student's Aadhar No. preceded with A, B or C as per Topic and as per the format given in the Notification. Mention of the authors/students name/emails, etc. anywhere in the body of the essay will lead to disqualification.

Students should submit scanned copy of their Aadhaar Card; PAN Card; Clear scanned copy of College Identity Card and a scanned copy of his/her Bank Details (such as Name; Account No.; Bank's Name; Branch name and address, IFSC Code etc.). Each student should also fill in their above personal details in an Excel Sheet Template (attached) and it should be sent to [email protected] by mentioning the subject as ‘My Excel Data’ as per Topic and as per the FORMAT (format should not be changed).

The last date of receipt of essays by email is 29th August 2024.

A maximum of 30 essays will be selected and only these 30 shortlisted students will be informed and will be invited to Mumbai during the last week of October 2024 for an oral presentation. 30 selected students for oral presentation (approximately 10 from each topic) will be announced on the DAE website and official social media channels of the Department. Final selection will be made on the basis of both - performance in oral presentation and quality of the written essay. Those called for oral presentation in Mumbai shall be eligible for travel expenses as specified in the Notification.

All winning essays will receive certificates and a Prize Money which will be credited directly to the student's (or his/her parents) Bank Account. There will be 3 First prizes of Rs. 25,000/- each, 3 Second prizes of Rs. 20,000/- each and 3 Third prizes of Rs. 15,000/- each and there will be 21 consolation prizes of Rs. 7,000/- each.

For queries related to Essay Contest, contact at Land Line: 022-2286 2605 022 2286 2504, 022 2286 2665, or email at: [email protected]

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Guest Essay

Republican Donors, Do You Know Where Your Money Goes?

By Juleanna Glover

Juleanna Glover is the chief executive of Ridgely Walsh, a corporate consultancy, and a former adviser to many Republican officials.

We long ago blew past any meaningful controls on political giving in American elections. Now we should focus on the rules governing political spending, which are in equally terrible shape. For that we can blame the Trump campaign and the federal government’s feeble enforcement efforts.

Anyone who has spent time reviewing Donald Trump’s campaign spending reports would quickly conclude they’re a governance nightmare. There is so little disclosure about what happened to the billions raised in 2020 and 2024 that donors (and maybe even the former president himself) can’t possibly know how it was spent.

Federal Election Commission campaign disclosure reports from 2020 show that much of the money donated to the Trump campaign went into a legal and financial black hole reportedly controlled by Trump family members and close associates. This year’s campaign disclosures are shaping up to be the same. Donors big and small give their hard-earned dollars to candidates with the expectation they will be spent on direct efforts to win votes. They deserve better.

During the 2020 election, almost $516 million of the over $780 million spent by the Trump campaign was directed to American Made Media Consultants, a Delaware-based private company created in 2018 that masked the identities of who ultimately received donor dollars, according to a complaint filed with the F.E.C. by the nonpartisan Campaign Legal Center . How A.M.M.C. spent the money was a mystery even to Mr. Trump’s campaign team , according to news reports shortly after the election.

All but 18 of the 150 largest expenditures on a Trump campaign’s 2020 F.E.C. report went to A.M.M.C. None of the expenses were itemized or otherwise explained aside from anodyne descriptions including “placed media,” “SMS advertising” and “online advertising.” F.E.C. rules require candidates to fully and accurately disclose the final recipients of their campaign disbursements, which is usually understood to include when payments are made through a vendor such as A.M.M.C. This disclosure is intended to assure donors their contributions are used for campaign expenses. Currently, neither voters nor law enforcement can know whether any laws were broken.

A.M.M.C.’s first president was reported to be Lara Trump , the wife of Mr. Trump’s son Eric. The New York Times reported that A.M.M.C. had a treasurer who was also the chief financial officer of Mr. Trump’s 2020 presidential campaign. Mr. Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner signed off on the plan to set up A.M.M.C., and one of Eric Trump’s deputies from the Trump Organization was involved in running it.

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From debts to solutions: Green debt swaps in India-Sri Lanka relations

Authors : Anirudh Rastogi | Daniel Odisho

Expert Speak Raisina Debates

Published on aug 21, 2024.

Green debt swaps between India and Sri Lanka can prove beneficial for both. For India, it can ease Sri Lanka's debt, boost environmental conservation, and improve regional energy security, all while supporting its SDGs.

Source Image: Getty

In 2022, low- and middle-income countries spent a record US$443.5 billion on external public debt servicing, diverting funds from crucial sectors like health, education, and environmental conservation . Projections indicate a 10 percent increase in debt servicing expenses for all developing countries in 2023–24, with low-income countries facing nearly a 40 percent rise. This ongoing debt crisis in the Global South highlights the need for innovative solutions.

This article advocates why India and Sri Lanka would gain from engaging in green debt swaps, with a focus on India's motivations and potential benefits. Sri Lanka has long grappled with financial challenges such as high debt levels, insufficient foreign reserves, and trade imbalances. Compounded by persistent political instability, the country faced an economic crisis, highlighted by an unmanageable debt burden. Despite engaging in debt-restructuring with creditors and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Sri Lanka's heavy debt curtails its ability to allocate resources to climate mitigation, adaptation, or environmental conservation efforts.

By engaging in a green debt swap with its heavily indebted neighbour, India would not only alleviate its external debt burden while leveraging environmental, economic and geopolitical benefits but also align with its commitment to sustainability.

India, a regional ally and stakeholder, seeks to promote sustainable development and regional stability, particularly in neighbouring countries like Sri Lanka. By engaging in a green debt swap with its heavily indebted neighbour, India would not only alleviate its external debt burden while leveraging environmental, economic and geopolitical benefits but also align with its commitment to sustainability. This would position India alongside developed nations offering such agreements and set a precedent for mutually beneficial assistance between developing countries.

What are green debt swaps?

'Debt-for-nature' and 'debt-for-climate' swaps, collectively referred to as green debt swaps, are debt-restructuring mechanisms where a country reduces its foreign debt in exchange for environmental protection commitments. While debt-for-nature emphasises conservation, debt-for-climate supports climate mitigation initiatives like renewable energy. Green debt swaps address the dual challenges faced by developing nations of borrowing for development and adapting their approaches to combat climate change and biodiversity loss.

Recent successful swaps include; Seychelles and Belize converted parts of their debts for ocean protection efforts; Cape Verde converted part of its debt for investments in renewable energy production and Ecuador converted a large part of its debt in exchange conservation efforts and protection of wildlife on the Galapagos Islands .

Sri Lanka’s overlooked investment opportunities

Due to its staggering debt burden, Sri Lanka has been engaged in debt-restructuring talks with creditors and the IMF. Its overwhelming debt obligations have already impaired the country politically, socially and economically, thereby severely constraining its ability to commit resources to climate mitigation or adaptation or any meaningful environmental protection or conservation efforts.

The outcome of these debt renegotiations will likely be some form of austerity package that may lead to social unrest, increased inequality, and hamper overall economic growth in the short-term. Green debt swaps could help alleviate this pressure, not only through debt reduction but also through job creation in green energy, climate-resilient infrastructure, eco-tourism and nature conservation. These sectors, often sidelined during economic downturns, hold promise for sustainable recovery and long-term resilience.

Green debt swaps could help alleviate this pressure, not only through debt reduction but also through job creation in green energy, climate-resilient infrastructure, eco-tourism and nature conservation.

Debt-for-climate swaps with India would allow “forgiven debt” to fund Sri Lanka’s renewable energy sector, which currently relies heavily on biofuels and hydropower, with much overlooked solar and wind projects. Despite a significant portion of its power generation coming from renewables (49.5 percent), solar and wind contribute less than 0.5 percent to the country’s total energy mix, signalling a pressing need for diversification to mitigate Sri Lanka's energy vulnerability .

Sri Lanka’s heavy reliance on imported fossil fuels strains its foreign exchange reserves, a major factor contributing to the country’s default. Due to a lack of investment capital, this reliance impedes financing for its renewable energy sector and its broader transition to sustainable energy. A study by the World Bank indicated that Sri Lanka could harness up to 56GW of sustainable ocean energy through offshore wind projects alone in its coastal waters. Moreover, Sri Lanka’s waters are also recognised to also have great potential for ocean energy in the form of tidal and wave energy. Despite initial costs, these resources could significantly contribute to long-term energy security.

Why should India engage in green debt swaps?

• Strengthening regional influence: By offering debt relief through green swaps, India can position itself as a key player in South Asian diplomacy and environmental leadership.
• Countering Chinese influence: As China is Sri Lanka's largest bilateral creditor, India's involvement in debt relief can help balance power dynamics in the region. The island nation's strategic location makes it indispensable for India's security interests. Aiding its neighbour in tackling its debt crisis reflects India's broader geopolitical strategy of maintaining a balance of power in the region.
• Expanding economic footprint: Green swaps can open doors for Indian businesses in Sri Lanka's renewable energy and conservation sectors.
• Enhancing energy security: Investments in Sri Lanka's renewable energy infrastructure can potentially lead to energy-sharing agreements, benefiting both nations. The proposed US$1.2 billion bi-directional undersea electricity cable , serving as an “energy corridor” between Sri Lanka and India, presents an excellent opportunity for incorporation into a Debt-for-Climate swap.
• Demonstrating commitment to global climate goals: This approach aligns with India's international climate commitments and enhances its reputation as a responsible global actor.
• Regional ecosystem protection: Investing in Sri Lanka's environmental conservation directly benefits India due to shared ecosystems and maritime boundaries. For instance, conservation efforts in the India-Sri Lanka transboundary area of Palk Bay are vital for both countries. By supporting Sri Lanka's investments in biodiversity preservation and sustainable fisheries management, India indirectly safeguards its own marine resources and interests.
• Promoting renewable energy: Supporting Sri Lanka's transition from imported fossil fuels to domestic renewable energy aligns with India's own sustainability goals and can create opportunities for knowledge sharing and technology transfer.
• Showcasing an alternative development model: India can present itself as a partner in sustainable development, differentiating its approach from traditional creditors.
• Strengthening bilateral ties: Assisting Sri Lanka in addressing its debt crisis while promoting environmental initiatives can significantly enhance India-Sri Lanka relations.
• Job creation and capacity building: Supporting Sri Lanka's green initiatives can lead to job creation and advance capacity building in energy sustainability, potentially benefiting Indian companies and experts involved in these projects.
• Technology transfer: Green debt swaps can facilitate the transfer of renewable energy and conservation technologies from India to Sri Lanka, creating new markets for Indian green tech firms.
• Pioneering new approaches: By engaging in Green Debt Swaps, India can position itself as an innovator in sustainable finance, potentially leading to similar arrangements with other countries in the region.
• Forex conservation: These swaps allow Sri Lanka to invest in crucial environmental initiatives using local currency, indirectly benefiting India by promoting economic stability in its immediate neighbourhood.

To make green debt swaps more attractive for India, the following product-level innovations could be considered:

• Transboundary carbon credits : Develop a mechanism where India receives a portion of the carbon credits generated from Sri Lanka's green projects funded by the debt swap.
• Green technology transfer programme : Include provisions for Indian companies to transfer green technologies to Sri Lanka as part of the swap agreement, creating new markets for Indian green tech firms.
• Green tourism corridor : Create a special tourism programme focusing on eco-tourism between the two countries, boosting the tourism sector while promoting conservation.
• Sustainable fisheries partnership : Develop a joint programme for sustainable fishing practices in shared waters, ensuring food security and protecting marine ecosystems.

There are a multitude of reasons why some form of relief or forgiveness of some of Sri Lanka’s crippling sovereign debt is in India’s interest. By engaging in green debt swaps with Sri Lanka, India can address multiple strategic objectives simultaneously. It can help alleviate Sri Lanka's debt burden, promote environmental conservation, enhance regional energy security, strengthen its geopolitical position, and demonstrate leadership in sustainable development. This multifaceted approach not only serves India's immediate interests but also contributes to long-term regional stability and ecological balance, positioning India as a forward-thinking leader in South Asia.

Anirudh Rastogi is the Founder and Managing Partner at Ikigai Law.  

Daniel Odisho works at Ikigai Law as a Sustainability Consultant.

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The views expressed above belong to the author(s). ORF research and analyses now available on Telegram! Click here to access our curated content — blogs, longforms and interviews.

Anirudh Rastogi

Anirudh is the Founder and Managing Partner at Ikigai Law - an award-winning law and public policy firm. An author and Ted speaker, Anirudh was ...

Daniel Odisho

Daniel is a corporate runaway from the finance industry. With 17 years of international experience, his professional journey included roles as an independent Management Consultant ...

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