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Hello NET aspirants, it’s essential to know the literary movements that happened worldwide as per the UGC NET English literature syllabus. But do you know about the Indian literary movements? No! Well, this blog will cover all the aspects related to the Indian literary movements. It is equally important from the examination point of view. So, don’t forget to read through them. But why is it important? 

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Why is it important to study the Indian literary movements? 

Indian literature is a tapestry woven with the threads of diverse languages, cultures, and histories. Its evolution is marked by various literary movements that not only mirrored societal transformations but also catalyzed them. Here, we explore the top literary movements in India and their enduring impact.

1. 1. Bhakti Movement (8th to 17th Century)The Bhakti movement was a spiritual and literary revolution that emphasized devotion to God over ritualistic practices and caste hierarchies. Spanning centuries, this movement gave rise to lyrical poetry that remains timeless. The movement brought revolutionary changes in social, moral, and political perspectives among Indians. Bhakti means personal devotion to God. It stresses the union of the individual with God. 
      • Key Features: Devotional themes, use of regional languages, rejection of caste barriers.
      • Prominent Poets: Kabir, Meera Bai, Tulsidas, Surdas (North India); Alvars and Nayanars (South India).
      • Impact: Unified people across caste and religious lines, enriched regional languages, and laid the foundation for devotional literature.
      2. Sufi Movement (12th to 18th Century)

      Parallel to the Bhakti movement, the Sufi movement blended Islamic mysticism with Indian cultural sensibilities. Sufi poetry explored themes of divine love, unity, and humanism. Simplicity, modesty, sheer devotion and complete obedience to God are some of the basic characteristics of the early phase. Much emphasis was laid on the doctrines and the authenticity of the mystic experience in the later phase.

      • Key Features: Mystical expressions, lyrical poetry, and emphasis on love and tolerance.
      • Prominent Poets: Amir Khusrau, Baba Farid, Bulleh Shah.
      • Impact: Popularized Urdu as a literary language, fostered communal harmony, and inspired forms like ghazals and qawwalis.
      3. Indian Renaissance and Reformist Literature (19th Century)

      The 19th century witnessed a cultural awakening in India, influenced by colonial education and social reform movements. Literature became a medium to critique societal evils and revive cultural pride.

      • Key Features: Social reform, nationalism, and a focus on education and gender equality.
      • Prominent Writers: Rabindranath Tagore, Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, Jotiba Phule.
      • Impact: Transitioned Indian literature from classical to modern forms, addressing issues like caste and gender.
      4. Progressive Writers’ Movement (1936-1950s)

      Rooted in Marxist ideology, this movement aimed to highlight social inequalities and inspire change through realist literature. The movement was a response to the Writer’s Union formed in Russia in the early 20th century.  In India, the socialist intellectuals organised the first All-India Progressive Writers’ Conference in Lucknow. The meeting was led by Sajjd Zaheer and the presidential address was delivered by Jawaharlal Nehru. The primary goal of the movement was to promote purposeful art and literature. 

      • Key Features: Focus on class struggles, social justice, and anti-colonial sentiments.
      • Prominent Writers: Premchand (Godaan), Saadat Hasan Manto (Toba Tek Singh), Ismat Chughtai (Lihaaf).
      • Impact: Elevated the role of literature as a tool for social and political awareness.
      5. Little Magazine Movement (1950-1960)

      The Little Magazine Movement emerged as a response to the shrinking space that could not accommodate literature from regional languages and saw the birth of ventures in Malyalam, Marathi, Bengali, Hindi, Gujarati, and others. During this movement, many marginal content writers have started voicing their ideas in these non-commercial, non- main stream journals and magazines. The regional and vernacular writers found a new medium in these periodicals. Dalit writings, especially Dalit poetry has gained a lot of momentum via these small magazines which were highly regional in nature; both the language and the circulation.

      6. Dalit Literary Movement (1960s-Present)

      Dalit literature emerged as a powerful voice against caste-based oppression, rooted in the lived experiences of Dalit communities.

      • Key Features: Autobiographical narratives, stark realism, and critique of caste hierarchies.
      • Prominent Writers: Omprakash Valmiki (Joothan), Bama (Karukku), Namdeo Dhasal.
      • Impact: Brought marginalized voices to mainstream literature and challenged traditional norms.
      7. Hungry Generation Movement (1960s)

      The famous Hungry Generation Movement broke out in Calcutta during the early 1960s and took the fire to other parts of the country as well. Hungryalist Movement was an Indian literary movement in Bengali language that focussed primarily on poetry and was launched by a group of young Bengali poets spearheaded by the famous Hungryalist quartet, i.e. Malay Roychoudhury, his elder brother Samir Roychoudhury, Shakti Chattopadhyay, and Debi Roy (aka Haradhon Dhara) which shook the roots of the Bengali literary and cultural establishment. The primary aim of this movement was “to confront and disturb the prospective reader’s preconceived colonial canons”. According to Pradip Choudhuri, a leading philosopher and poet of the generation, their counter-discourse was the first voice of post-colonial freedom of pen and brush. Interestingly, the term ‘Hungryalism’ was derived from a phrase by the medieval English poet  Geoffrey Chaucers “the sowre hungry tyme” out from a line written by him, “When it was in the sowre hungry tyme, ther was establissed or cryed grievous and unplitable coempcioun, that me sayen wel it schulde gretly tormenten and endamagen al the province of Campayne, I took stryf ayens the provost of the pretorie for commune profit.”iv Thus it is clear from the above mentioned line that the name Hungryalist movement was taken from the phrase ‘Hungry’ and linked to the contemporary condition of Bengal in the early sixties.

      8. Indian Modernism (Early 20th Century)

      Inspired by global modernist movements, Indian modernism explored themes of alienation, individual struggles, and existentialism.

      • Key Features: Psychological depth, fragmented narratives, and urban settings.
      • Prominent Writers: Raja Rao (Kanthapura), R.K. Narayan (The Guide), Suryakant Tripathi Nirala.
      • Impact: Shifted focus to individualism and experimentation with form and language.
      9. Feminist Literary Movement (20th Century-Present)

      Indian feminist literature highlights women’s struggles, identity, and agency in a patriarchal society.

      • Key Features: Gender equality, critique of patriarchy, and exploration of sexuality.
      • Prominent Writers: Kamala Das, Mahasweta Devi (Draupadi), Anita Desai.
      • Impact: Expanded the scope of Indian literature by incorporating feminist perspectives and addressing gender issues.
      10. Postcolonial Literary Movement (Post-1947)

      Postcolonial literature delves into the legacy of colonialism and the challenges faced by newly independent nations.

      • Key Features: Identity, hybridity, and resistance to Western narratives.
      • Prominent Writers: Salman Rushdie (Midnight’s Children), Amitav Ghosh (The Shadow Lines), Arundhati Roy (The God of Small Things).
      • Impact: Positioned Indian literature on the global stage, exploring the nuances of cultural and political identity.
      11. Regional Literary Movements

      India’s linguistic diversity has fostered unique literary movements in various regions, reflecting local cultures and histories.

      • Examples: Tamil Sangam literature, Kannada Navodaya movement, Bengali Kallol movement.
      • Impact: Preserved linguistic diversity and enriched India’s regional literary heritage.
      12. Diaspora Literary Movement (Late 20th Century-Present)

      Literature by the Indian diaspora explores themes of displacement, nostalgia, and cultural hybridity.

      • Key Features: Identity struggles, transnationalism, and belonging.
      • Prominent Writers: V.S. Naipaul, Jhumpa Lahiri (The Namesake), Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni.

      Impact: Added global dimensions to Indian literature, bridging cultures and experiences.

Conclusion

Indian literary movements reflect the country’s rich cultural, social, and political history. From devotional verses of the Bhakti and Sufi movements to the realism of Dalit and progressive writers, each movement has shaped Indian literature in unique ways. For readers and scholars alike, exploring these movements offers a deeper understanding of India’s literary legacy and its ongoing dialogue with identity, equality, and creativity. 

If you’re preparing for UGC-NET English, this blog will be helpful to understand the contributions of Indian literary movements. Besides this, if you need best coaching for UGC NET in Delhi, you can join Sahitya Classes. At Sahitya Classes, you will get comprehensive crash course for UGC-NET English in which all topics in the UGC NET English literature syllabus will be covered. Additionally, you will get PYQs, test-series, free paper 1 classes, and rapid-fire quiz sessions. You will also get UGC NET English study material pdf. So, if you’re looking for UGC-NET online classes, you can consider Sahitya Classes as you can prefer to study anytime, anywhere. You can join the next offline batch starting from January 15, 2025. So, why wait? Enroll now! 

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