Mapping Contemporary Trends in Anglophone Novel Writing in India and Its South Asian Neighbouring Regions

Abstract

This study presents a comparative evaluation and maps modern English novel writing across nine distinct Asian subcontinental and contiguous nations: India, China, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Tibet, and Myanmar. While these territories are linked by ancient trade networks, shared ecological zones, and deep spiritual geographies—namely Buddhism, Hinduism, and Islam—they exhibit highly divergent colonial histories and political trajectories. By analyzing representative texts and authors from each region, this paper investigates how the Anglophone novel functions as a vehicle for reclaiming cultural memory, resisting political oppression, and negotiating modern transitions. The findings indicate that while Indian and Pakistani Anglophone literatures have reached a highly commercialized and structurally mature phase, writing from nascent traditions like Bhutan and Nepal, or conflict-affected regions like Afghanistan and Sri Lanka, relies heavily on themes of exile, trauma, and gendered resilience. Ultimately, the modern English novel in the subcontinent serves as a dynamic cross-border bridge, fusing collectivist cultural norms and localized folklore with global narrative strategies like magical realism and postcolonial neorealism.