Urban Poetry: A Rhythm Myth

Abstract

Indian English poetry holds its own place as a unique genre in the world of literature for using English language to convey Indian identity. Despite the difficulties of writing in a second language, poets have retained cultural authenticity by addressing themes that resonate with Indian culture, such as spirituality, nationalism, and an intimate relationship to the natural world. As a result of this cultural grounding, Indian poets have localized the language; they have made English sound Indian by giving it Indian idioms, rhythms and tonal properties that mirroring those of India without falling into an Anglicised mode. Rather than just using English, the poets have made English their own: even if it appears woolly to an Anglo-Saxon ear, you can identify the Indian touch. Upon reading the poems written by early poets such as Henry Vivian Derozio and others in the nineteenth century who were considered the pioneers of this genre that combines national pride with inner conflict here emerges a certain identity which is true to Indian English literature even today — The things we make our own, using those mythical confluences to bridge realities are often irresistible and you find them have been already carved within us. These poets laid the groundwork for later generations by tackling social and philosophical concerns related to India, thus creating a base for future progress. This legacy has continued to be developed by Modern Indian English poets who have taken the traditions of their predecessors yet have addressed contemporary themes like urbanization, materialistic life and the vanishing morals in a fast-modernizing society. This generation of poets tackles social issues — such as disintegration of family and community, materialism and ecological crisis — but the poems still hold a timeless Indian voice. When it comes to poetry, we face the same struggles of diversity. Anthologies these days tend to focus on urban poets while ignoring rural poetry. Yet rural poets offer much to Indian English poetry that is of immense value, their perspectives enriched by visible differences in ways of life and associated sets of values with the many urban experience. In conclusion, the development of Indian English poetry from the 19th century to today reflects a continuous tug-of-war between tradition and modernity. While Indian English poetry holds on to its identity in the roots of Indian culture, it also reflects the ground realities of a fast approaching globalized world and keeps pace with the metamorphosing character of the place where it is found.