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Book Reviews
Jaydeep Sarangi
Indian Novel in English
A Sociolinguistic Study
by Dr T.S. Chandra Mouli
 As
the blurb says this study by Jaydeep Sarangi is devoted to a
sociolinguistic analysis of Indian novel in English. It analyses the
language, structure, style and socio-cultural nuances in Indian navels
in English by writers from India. The text is very impressively
presented by the publishers, Prakash Book Depot, Bareilly.
This research work is divided into six chapters. Jaydeep Sarangi in his
introduction defines sociolinguistics and various related aspects. Like
a scientist the author embarks on methodical description of the chosen
topic, presents clinically tangible evidence and judiciously pronounces
scholarly judgment.It is a novel method , indeed, in evaluating Indian
novel in English.
Sarangi, quite confidently selects nine Indian English novelists that
includes the triumvirate Mulk Raj Anand, Raja Rao and R.K.Narayan, apart
from Bhabhani Bhattacharya, Khushwant Singh and Amitav Ghosh. Discussion
on the novels of Rama Mehta, Anita Desai and Arundhati Roy lends
grandeur to the scheme of the text under consideration.
‘Introduction’ is a revelation virtually. Sarangi’s grasp of the topic
and in depth scholarship in sociolinguistics is splendidly displayed.
Every term required to understand the subject is lucidly explained with
suitable examples. This, in a way, prepares the reader to appreciate
subsequent chapters comfortably .Not many scholars have undertaken such
a demanding task as lovingly as Sarangi does.
“Raja Rao’s Indianness is a binding force, the result of many other
forces – sense of tradition, culture, heritage, geography,
life-attitude, habits, deep-rooted philosophy and social life”(p-49). Sarangi sums up what Indianness , in general , represents in Indian
English fiction. As he aptly states Indianness is an internal and
abstract value .It is that mental unity where differences melt. “ In
Indian context, two responsible features of politeness are modesty and
humility (or meekness)”(p-50). Sarangi provides a profusion of examples
from the novels of Mulk Raj Anand and Raja Rao to vivify this aspect.
”The process of nativisation involves experimentation with the
expressive resourses of language at various levels; vocabulary,
morphology, collocation, syntax and rhetorical patterning.”(p—63).
Sarangi brilliantly enumerates what makes Indian English unique. An
elaborate evaluation of the novels of R.K.Narayan, Bhahbani Bhattacharya
and Khushwant Singh is very lucid and enjoyable.. “Indianness is
essentially an important criteria for Indian writing in English because
it gives the Indian writing an identity of its own” (p-71).Sarangi offers
ample examples to illustrate orthographic, syntactical and morphological
foregrounding in support of his argument..”
Greetings and blessings are characterized by the use of a special
language. The content of a blessing is always positive .Blessings are
culture-specific. Blessings create favorable interpersonal
atmosphere.”(p-97).Sarangi deals with this essential aspect of Indian
life with remarkable erudition and pragmatism. He examines the work of
Rama Mehta and Anita Desai with clinical precision. He recounts
instances of self-humbling and addressee-raising, two dominant aspects
of Indian English polite discourse.
Sarangi throws light on the techniques employed by Amitav Ghosh and
Arundhati Roy in their novels. He concludes quite rightly “In India,
the English writers have gone back to their roots and yet, they have
totally rejected the language of the colonizer; they opt for
hybridization of the adopted language” (p-119). True, the indigenous
words and expressions have been freely accommodated in the writings of
Indian writers in English.
The last chapter’ conclusion’ not only signs off an extraordinary
scholastic and linguistic endeavour but also dwells at length on the
themes that represent Indian sensibility. Jaydeep Sarangi has provided
excellent notes at the end of each chapter in addition to an impressive
list of references..
How ever, Sarangi deserves appreciation for appending a very lengthy and
highly useful bibliography to the text under review. This, in it self,
is a glowing testimony to the quality of work offered as a labor of love
to the seekers of knowledge .In fact, this is a very valuable
referential text and an eminently enjoyable book providing a new
dimension in the evaluation of Indian Novel in English.
August 13, 2006
Indian Novel in English:
A Sociolinguistic Study by Jaydeep Sarangi. Published by Prakash
Book Depot, Bara Bazar, Bareilly 243003. Rs 175/-- pp154.
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