Fiction’s got back it’s mojo

Fiction’s got back it’s mojo

Almost no one will admit this on record, but more often than not, Indian publishers despair at the submissions they receive and those who regularly read Indian writing in English complain that it’s boring. There’s much excitement at the idea of India as a new and promising market, but the titles that gladden both readers’ and publishers’ hearts are usually imports. If you’re a fan of fiction, like me, Indian writing in English can often be a crushing experience. Not only because its quality is inconsistent, but because the nonfiction we write is frequently a better read. When it comes to fiction by Indian authors, there are some standard complaints: the themes feel hackneyed, the styles are unexciting, the language is either bland or overwrought. In the past couple of years, Indian novels have seemed particularly mediocre next to the fiction from other parts of the world and the impressive list of nonfiction titles by Indian writers. A few months into 2011, however, it looked like the tide may be changing. Now, ten months into 2012, there’s no doubt about it: Indian writing in English has unslumped. If you thought recent releases like The Illicit Happiness Of Other People and The Wildings were one-offs, the longlist for the DSC Prize for South Asian Literature that was announced last week is proof that fiction has regained some serious mojo. There are 16 books that have been nominated and they show that this past year’s crop of fiction has been impressive. The selection has books that are insightful, sophisticated, challenging and not at all boring. Fittingly for a prize meant for South Asian literature, there’s a neat mix of nationalities as well (last year was monotonously Indian). Some of Pakistani fiction’s brightest stars, like Mohammed Hanif, Musharraf Ali Farooqi and Jamil Ahmed have made the cut. The desi diaspora is well-represented through Niven Govinden, Roopa Farooki and Sunetra Gupta. A couple of translations have made the cut; Bangladesh gets a look-in, thanks to Tahmima Anam. Hearteningly, the Indian authors in the longlist are all worthy nominees who hold their own next to the foreign competition. The jury panel for the DSC Prize has quite a task ahead of it as the judges whittle the list down to six and finally pick one winner. Chances are one reviewer or the other will go off the rails because almost every longlisted book has its own fan club. For example, if due to some madness Em And The Big Hoom doesn’t make it to the shortlist, I’ll have some angry words for the judges. At present, though, rage is the last thing on my mind. It’s time to celebrate — the storytellers are back on top. deepanjana.pal@dnaindia.net