Culture and Identity in Contemporary Indian English Poetry

Abstract

Indian English poetry with a view to achieving modernity, tries to do different kinds of experiments. Rhyme and Stanzaic forms had replaced free verse. Verbal melody came to be evoked through the use of alliterative words. The tone was one of the intellectualized irony and sarcasm. The stance of the poets was one of the complete detachment and objectivity. The other innovation of the modern Indian poets is the use of symbolism. The poets use modern techniques used by the film industry and advertising industry besides the stream of consciousness and free association of ideas. There is much “word hunting” and “image hunting” which reflects the medium of consciousness on the part of the poet. The Indian, poets therefore borrows words from their regional languages. To be Indian, poets have to be rooted in Indian-geographically, historically, socially or psychologically. Poetry is the expression of human life from times eternal. India, in fact has a long tradition of arts and poetry from ages. Colonialism gave a new language, English for the expression of Indians. The poetry written by the Indians in English in the last 150 years may be said to have three phrases: the imitative, the assimilative and the experiment.