Tradition versus Modernity in Contemporary Indian English Fiction

Abstract

This paper examines the dynamic interplay between tradition and modernity in contemporary Indian English fiction, analysing how literary narratives reflect and critique India’s evolving socio-cultural landscape. Rooted in a history marked by colonial intervention, post-independence nation-building, and accelerated globalisation, Indian English fiction has become a significant medium for articulating cultural tensions and transformations. The study explores how writers negotiate inherited traditions such as family structures, caste hierarchies, gender roles, and religious practices alongside modern influences including urbanisation, individualism, consumerism, and global mobility. Through a thematic and critical reading of selected texts by authors such as Salman Rushdie, Anita Desai, and Arundhati Roy, the paper argues that tradition and modernity are not presented as fixed opposites but as fluid, intersecting processes. The analysis highlights how contemporary fiction challenges simplistic binaries, revealing hybrid identities and alternative modernities shaped by indigenous contexts. Ultimately, the study demonstrates that Indian English fiction offers nuanced insights into India’s ongoing negotiation between cultural continuity and change.