The format is extensive and popular.
In the fascinating world of language, Indian English is rich with knowledge and history.
Commonly known as Indo-Anglian, it combines Indian languages and Indian literature written in English.
Indian English refers to writers in India who write or speak in English despite their native language being one spoken in India.
Writers including RK Narayan, Mulk Raj Anand, and Raja Rao have been key contributors to the growth of Indian English.
Their work dates back to the 1930s. Since then, the format has witnessed significant growth in its usage.
In this article, DESIblitz divulges the history of Indian English and we explore it through an exciting, educational lens.
Early Usage
The first official text written in Indian English was The Travels of Dean Mahomet (1794) by Dean Mahomed. It is a piece inspired by travel.
Indian writers who pioneered the literature form were known to use unadulterated English.
This means the English they used was pure and had no extra elements.
These writers used this form of English to portray Indian experiences.
The book, Rajmohan’s Wife (1864) by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay was the first Indian novel written in English.
Books such as Govinda Samanta or The History of a Bengali Raiya (1874) by Lal Behari Dey and Bianca or The Young Spanish Maiden by Toru Dutt followed.
Bianca or The Young Spanish Maiden was the first novel written by an Indian woman.
Indian English also encompasses letters, diaries, speech, and articles from the 19th century all being written in this form.
Speeches of freedom fighters and dignitaries including Mahatma Gandhi, Rabindranath Tagore, and Subhas Chandra Bose have been written and presented in Indian English.
This suggests how quickly others coined Indian English, making it a popular form of communication by various means.
Writers of Indian English
As previously mentioned, several writers have adopted Indian English as a frequent representation of their work.
However, let’s delve into them in more detail.
Raja Rao was an Indian writer and philosopher. He was born in 1908, yet his work still enthrals millions of readers.
His novels like Kanthapura (1938) The Serpent and the Rope (1960) present Indian manners of storytelling, but they rely significantly on IEL.
Kisari Mohan Ganguli is famous for translating Mahabharat completely into English.
Ganguli’s version is the first time the spiritual epic was translated into an entirely European language.
Born in 1906, RK Narayan is one of India’s most celebrated writers. Graham Greene assisted Narayan in finding a publisher in England.
Some of Narayan’s popular texts are set in the fictional town of Malgudi. His notable books include The Tiger of Malgudi and The Guide.
Salman Rushdie has also championed Indian English. His classic book Midnight’s Children went on to win the Booker Prize in 1981.
Salman is known to write in English but intertwines his words with Indian terminology.
He highlights the importance of Indian writers who work using English:
“The prose writing created in this period by Indian writers working in English is proving to be a stronger and more important body of work than most of what has been produced in the 18 ‘recognised’ languages of India.
“This still burgeoning Indo-Anglian literature represents perhaps the most valuable contribution India has yet made to the world of books.”
Manmohan Ghose
In an official paper on Indian English, a writer names Manmohan Ghose as “a sparkling star”.
Manmohan was born in 1869 and had an English education in Oxford and Manchester.
He penned many poetry collections including Primavera (1890) and Love, Songs, and Elegies (1898).
The paper praises the rhythm in Manmohan’s poetry:
“Manmohan’s wonderful sense of the beauty of English words and rhythm made him a notable literary craftsman in the eyes of English scholars of England.
“His poetry was considered much intellectual thoughts and rhythm in his poetry is an outstanding feature.”
The paper also includes a quote by the renowned writer Oscar Wilde, who notes Manmohan’s influences:
“The temper of Keats and the moods of Matthew Arnold have influenced Mr. Ghose, and what better influences could a beginner have?”
In 1893, Ghose returned to India and taught extensively, leaving behind a legacy firmly ingrained in the annals of Indian English.
Polarising Viewpoints
Although it was a highly progressive field, Indian English has spurned polarising viewpoints, resulting in galvanised debates about the topic.
One of the issues regarding IEL is whether it is superior or inferior to the literature in other Indian languages.
Its creativity and depth have also been variably questioned.
In the book The Vintage Book of Indian Writing, Salman Rushdie made a controversial remark:
“The ironic proposition that India’s best writing since independence may have been done in the language of the departed imperialists is simply too much for some folks to bear.”
‘Hinglish’
When Indian English is spoken, it can generate opposition as well.
Hindi is one of the most spoken languages in India and among non-residential Indians.
When Hindi amalgamates with English, an unofficial language, Hinglish, is created.
Anagha Natekar comments on the simplicity of Hinglish: “‘Hinglish’ is easy to understand, it conveys our emotions nearly perfectly.”
However, she also recognises the disadvantages of it: “One must use ‘Hinglish’ judiciously.
“Its constant use has disadvantages. It can result in the death of one of the two languages, mostly that of Hindi.
“Even if it is used, it could be far from pure. The most dangerous of all is that one can lose the ability to use one language fluently in speech or writing.”
The thoughts of Anagha suggest that Indian English, including ‘Hinglish’, certainly has its good points as well as drawbacks.
She concludes: “While we enjoy expressing ourselves perhaps better using ‘Hinglish’, we must take care that in the process we don’t destroy either Indian languages or English.”
For centuries, Indian English has fascinated millions of writers and speakers.
Whether in literature, speeches, or oral usage, the format is extensive and popular.
Many have thrived in its usage, representing themselves as progressive thinkers and in doing so, they have created an everlasting appeal.
However, one must consider the danger of Indian languages losing their sanctity.
As Indian society continues to find new influences, Indian English will continue to grow and develop.
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