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English authors missing Indian spirit: experts

Staff Reporter

It is felt that real creativity is artistry of mind rather than linguistic craftsmanship

BERHAMPUR: Recent Indian writers in English lack the true Indian spirit, opined experts attending the two-day UGC-sponsored seminar on `Recent trends in Indian writing in English' organised by the Post-Graduate Department of English of Khallikote Autonomous College that was inaugurated on Friday.

Speaking at the seminar, former professor of English of Ravenshaw Autonomous College P.K. Mohanty said most of the Indian authors writing in English were foreign educated having good grasp over the language. "Their writings can be termed as pieces of best craftsmanship but they lack the artistry of creativity," he said. .

English writings of Sri Aurovindo, which includes the great epic `Savitri', as well as the writings of Gurudev Ravindranath Tagore can be termed pure Indian creations and very few modern English creations can reach to their levels, Mr. Mohanty said. There was also mention of Mahtama Gandhi as a modern Indian English author, who understood the psyche of Indian populace as he was rooted to the soil.

Former professor of English of Berhampur University and Utkal University B.K. Tripathy also said that new writers in English have to make their creations more Indian.

Ramanendra Mohapatra, reader of English of Khallikote Autonomous College, said the present writings are at their best if jugglery of words and syntax are to taken into account. But he also felt that real creativity is artistry of mind rather than linguistic craftsmanship.

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