A Reappraisal of short story writers of Nationalistic Era in Indian Writing in English

Abstract

The writer is profoundly influenced by his times. This is the newlineuniversal fact. Some writers are seemingly unaffected by the times, but the newlineundercurrent of his times silently flows in his writings. Some vehemently newlinereact to the issues of their times and contribute their might to the flow of the newlinetimes. Some writers are critical of their times and sow the seeds of change. newlineOne or the other way, the writer is influenced by his times that emerges in newlinehis writings. This is pertinent in a way more prominent in fiction. newlineIn these chapters, the researcher has made a humble attempt to give a newlinereappraisal of the mind and art of short story writers, who have yet to newlineestablish themselves in the Anglo-Indian literature. Mulk Raj Anand is newlineIndo-Anglian short story writer of international repute. They deserve more newlinecritical attention than they have received so far. R. K. Narayan is an equally newlinepioneering Indo-Anglian short story writer. Though his short stories lack newlinethe seriousness of Anand and his sense of humour and pure aestheticism, as newlinecontrasted with morality and utility, make him a writer of his type. It will be newlineseen how, like pointer Whistler, Oscar Wilde, Walter Peter and Clive Bell, newlinehe believes Arts for Arts and wilfully eschews philosophical enquiry or newlinethe spirit of social reform. newlineIn the modern complex civilization with its hurry and divided aim, newlinereaders can devote very little of their time to reading books .Naturally they newlinehave recourse only to light reading, which delights them and brings them newlinerelaxation and relief. It is not usually possible to go through lengthy novels newline(iii) newlineof either Scott or Dickens or even Hardy. Naturally, they resort to short newlinestories, which have become inevitable in the present set up. In fact, it is a newlinefittest form for an art of intensity where strong effects have to be condensed newlineinto a fine structure. Among Indo-Anglian writers R. K. Narayan, Mulk Raj newlineAnand Raja Rao, and Bhabani Bhattacharya have shown equal brilliance newlinewith Indian characters and Indian atmosphere. Their stories are thoroughly newlineIndian w