A rich fictional culture
Having written about the Indian short story at the end of last week, I was
delighted to see more entries from that part of the world over the weekend.
Delighted but not surprised because many people would say that short stories
have become one of the most important genres, if not the most important, in
India over recent years.
Why does Indian writing adapt itself so well to this genre? My personal
opinion is that Indian writing is very powerful, spiritual almost, closely
linked to the emotions and sensations that, for me, make writing so evocative.
I appreciate that many writers tell stories without seeking to impart
any great truths, and that is absolutely fine, but I have always liked
writing that says something about the world in which we live, and I think Indian fiction is well suited to that sort of approach.
There is another reason for the ascendancy of the short story in Indian
fiction. Having done some research, it seems that the magazines and
periodicals in India must take a lot of the credit, giving writers a voice
as they seek to make sense of the world about them. It certainly seems
that Indian short story writers are fascinated by the culture of the country
in which they live and work.
Looking forward to more Indian entries soon.
John Dean