Call for Book Chapters

Influence of Indian Philosophers on Indian Writings in English: A Socio-Cultural Perspective

Editors: Dr. Ashutosh Singh and Dr. Sahabuddin Ahamed

deadline for submission extended: 15 February, 2026 

Indian writing in English has long served as a bridge between the rich indigenous intellectual traditions of India and global literary audiences. While colonial and postcolonial discourses have dominated much of the critical landscape, there remains an underexplored yet profoundly significant influence of Indian philosophical thought–ranging fromancient systems like Vedanta, Nyaya, and Samkhya to modern philosophers such as Swami Vivekananda, AurobindoGhosh, Mahatma Gandhi, Rabindranath Tagore, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, A.K. Ramanujan, and Jiddu Krishnamurti. Overthe centuries, these philosophers have not only shaped India’s moral, spiritual, metaphysical, and socio-politicaloutlook but have also directly informed the themes, characters, forms, and linguistic strategies of Indian authorswriting in English. Their ideas have shaped Indian literature in various ways, often blending traditional Indianconcepts with modern Western forms of writing. They emphasized the importance of self-realization, innerawakening, non-violence, spiritual growth, social justice, and individual freedom. Their writings and teachings haveinfluenced Indian authors such as Mulk Raj Anand, Raja Rao, R. K. Narayan, Kiran Nagarkar, E.M. Forster, and evencontemporary writers like Salman Rushdie, Vikram Seth, Anita Desai, Amitav Ghosh, Gurcharan Das, and ArundhatiRoy.

In the early stages of Indian English literature, Indian writers were often drawn to Western literary forms and ideasbrought about by British colonization of India in the 19th-century. Initially, many Indian writers such as Henry LouisVivian Derozio, Toru Dutt, and Sarojini Naidu looked towards Western literary figures and themes for inspiration.However, with time, Indian writers such as Tagore, Sri Aurobindo Ghosh, and R. Parthasarathy began to assert theirown identities in English language, they increasingly turned to Indian philosophical traditions to find expressions oftheir cultural heritage, reconciling cultural roots with the global literary landscape, creating a fusion of Eastern andWestern ideas.

In literature, Vivekananda’s emphasis on self-realization, social service, nationalism, spiritual empowerment, selfreliance,and national renewal can be seen in the works of writers who explore the themes of personal growth andnational renewal. His philosophy reinforced the importance of a new national identity based on spiritual andintellectual empowerment, themes that would later find expressions in the writings of post-independence Indianauthors.

Writers like Rabindranath Tagore drew on the theme of interconnectedness of all beings-the unity of humanity, theenvironment, and the cosmos, common theme in Vedanta philosophy, seeing human life as part of a larger,interconnected whole. Tagore’s work often reflects the tension between the material and the spiritual, the individualand the collective, mirroring the Vedantic quest for the ultimate truth. In his poetry, such as Gitanjali, Tagoreexplores themes of divine love, the unity of all existence, the relationship between the self and the divine, and thetranscendent nature of the self. The poem reflects the Vedantic quest for unity with the divine and the transcendentnature of existence. His portrayal of God as both personal and impersonal, and his emphasis on inner experience,are reflective of the Vedantic synthesis of the material and the spiritual. Aurobindo’s philosophy emphasized theevolution of consciousness, the inner self, and the potential for divine transformation in human beings as exploredin his epic poem, Savitri.

Like the influence of Vedanta philosophy, Buddhism and its emphasis on suffering (dukkha), impermanence (anicca), andnon-self (anatta) has had a profound influence on Indian literature. In The Crescent Moon, Tagore presents a world offleeting nature of beauty and life that echoes Buddhist notions of detachment and impermanence. Influenced by Jainism,R.K. Narayan in his Malgudi Days incorporates some ethical considerations, such as compassion and non-violence.

Mahatma Gandhi promoted ideas of non-violence (ahimsa) and self-sufficiency (swadeshi) that have shaped narrativesfocused on the resistance to colonialism and the search for cultural identity.Authors like Mulk Raj Anand, R.K. Narayan, and Ismat Chughtai explored the challenges of modern urban life, ofteninvoking philosophical ideas that challenged Western materialism and emphasized the importance of spiritual andethical living.

In the post-colonial era, Indian writers in English blended Western literary styles with Indian philosophical conceptsand continued to engage with Indian philosophical traditions, reflecting the complex process of negotiating modernity,identity, and self-awareness.

Amitav Ghosh’s The Shadow Lines reflects the influence of Krishnamurti’s questioning of the notion of fixed identitiesand celebration of the fluidity of human experiences. In The Hungry Tide, he delves into themes of identity, borders, andhuman interconnectedness. Sarojini Naidu’s poetry touches on themes of spiritual awakening, nationalism, and therediscovery of India’s cultural heritage. Her works embody a synthesis of Eastern spirituality and Western literary forms,reflecting Vivekananda’s vision of a modern, spiritually awakened world. Rushdie’s Midnight’s Children blends elementsof magical realism with Indian cultural and spiritual themes, invoking Indian mythological and philosophical traditions.Arundhati Roy’s The God of Small Things reflects the idea of interconnectedness and the influence of karma in shapinglives that is central to Indian philosophy. In A Suitable Boy, Vikram Seth navigates the complexities of love, politics, and identity, explores the tension between tradition and modernity, and reflects a world view that is deeply influenced by Indian philosophical traditions. In The Golden Gate and An Equal Music, Seth explores individual transformation, selfawareness, the search for inner freedom, and the complexities of human condition.

The impact of Indian philosophers on Indian writing is profound and multifaceted. Indian philosophy, with its rich tapestry of spiritual, ethical, and metaphysical ideas, has provided Indian writers with the intellectual and moral framework to explore the complexities of modern life, personal identity, national history, and social justice. Writers have not only drawn upon these philosophical ideas but have also contributed to their evolution, integrating them into the literary fabric of modern India. The continued influence of Indian philosophy in literature ensures that these deep, timeless ideas remain central to the exploration of the human condition in Indian writing today. This edited volume aims to bring together scholarly chapters that examine the deep intersection of Indian philosophical thought and Indian English literature across genres, authors, thematic concerns, and periods.

Objectives:

To explore the interrelationship between Indian philosophical thought and Indian English literature

To examine how Indian philosophy has been a guiding force in shaping Indian English literature while maintaining the synthesis of Western literary forms with the deep spiritual and philosophical traditions of India.

To identify how specific schools of thought (classical and modern) influence narrative structures, themes, and characters.

To foster interdisciplinary engagement between literary studies, Indian philosophy, and cultural history.

To highlight how the legacy of Indian philosophical thought continues to shape the literary imagination of the world.

Suggested themes (but not limited to):

Vedanta and Upanishadic influences in contemporary Indian writing in English

Contribution of specific philosopher to Indian English literature

Influence of Buddhist and Jain philosophy in Indian English writing

Swami Vivekananda and the integration of spiritual and nationalist ideals

Gandhian thought in Indian English poetry, fiction, and drama

Sri Aurobindo’s spiritual vision in contemporary Indian writing

Ambedkarite philosophy in Dalit literature in English

Rabindranath Tagore’s humanism and cosmopolitanism in Indian English writing

A.K. Ramanujan’s translation and philosophical poetics

Krishnamurti’s thought in literary texts

Comparative analysis of Indian and Western philosophical influences on Indian writers

Concepts of self, identity, karma, and moksha in modern Indian literary narratives

Feminist readings of Indian philosophers in Indian English literature

Spirituality and identity in Indian English autobiographies

Philosophy, caste, gender, and resistance

Myth, morality, and metaphysics in Indian English novels

Spirituality and self-realization

Interconnectedness of all life forms

Indian philosophical motifs in modern Indian English literature

Indian philosophy and postcolonial identity in Indian writing in English

Modern reinterpretations of Indian philosophical concepts in contemporary novels

The role of Indian philosophical thought in post-independence literature

The presence of Indian philosophical themes in diasporic Indian English writing

Submission Guidelines:

Please submit an abstract of 200-250 words and a full chapter of 4,000 to 6,500 words along with a short bio-note of 100 words to ashutoshbhu2002@gmail.com, amar.amaranthus123@gmail.com

Please format the chapter by using Times New Roman, size: 12 pt and justified, line spacing: 1.5, no foot-notes, title of chapter: bold 14 pt, centre alignment, subsection of chapter: bold, 12 pt, and chapter in Microsoft Word, citation style: MLA 9th edition, language: English.

Deadline for submission: 15 February, 2026

Acceptance mail: 15 March 2026

Expected publication: July 2026

Publisher: To be published by a reputed national/international publisher

Plagiarism policy and self-declaration: Chapters must be original, unpublished, and not under consideration elsewhere. All submission will undergo a peer review process. The editors reserve the right to reject chapters that do not meet scholarly standards. If the chapter contains more than 10% plagiarism, it will be rejected. The author must provide a self-declaration that the chapter is original and unpublished work and not under consideration elsewhere.

Editors:

Dr. Ashutosh Singh is an Assistant Professor of English in the Department of English and Foreign Language at Guru Ghasidas Vishwavidyalaya (A Central University), Chhattisgarh, India. His expertise spans diaspora studies, postcolonial studies, contemporary fiction, gender studies, and Indian writing in English. He has presented numerous papers at national and international conferences and seminars. He has also published numerous research articles and book chapters in national and international journals and edited books. He is actively engaged in project works and research supervision.

Dr. Sahabuddin Ahamed is currently working as an Assistant Professor (Guest Faculty) of English at Pandit Sundarlal Sharma (Open) University, Chhattisgarh, India. He obtained his M.A. in English Literature and a Ph.D in Postcolonial Literature  from Guru Ghasidas Vishwavidyalaya (A Central University), Chhattisgarh, India in 2016 and 2024 respectively. His research interests include postcolonial studies, cultural studies, gender studies, and Indian literature in English. He has published numerous academic papers in national and international journals and edited books. He has also authored two poetry collections: In All Seasons: A Haiku Journey (2025) and Wings of Poesy (2025).