Indian Literature

Indian Literature is an English-language literary journal published by Sahitya Akademi, India's National Academy of Letters. Established in 1957, it was created to improve access to literary developments across the many languages of India and to document the work of the Akademi itself. Its central function has been to act as a bridge between Indian-language literatures and English-language readers through translations, critical writing, reviews, bibliographies, author statements, and surveys of contemporary publishing. The journal began as an annual publication. Its creation followed repeated requests at Sahitya Akademi General Council meetings after the institution was founded in 1954. The inaugural issue appeared in October 1957 and set out an editorial purpose centered on making new Indian writing more widely known, especially through translation. The original editorial board included S. Radhakrishnan, Humayun Kabir, and K. R. Kripalani, with Kripalani serving as editor. The early subscription price was recorded as Rs. 2.5 per year. Its publication frequency changed as the journal developed. It became biannual in 1959, quarterly in 1966, and bimonthly from 1979. The change in frequency reflected the expansion of its coverage and its growing role as a continuing record of Indian literary production. From 1965 onward, the journal had a designated editor in addition to its editorial board. Editors have included Lokenath Bhattacharya, Keshav Malik, S. Balu Rao, A. J. Thomas, K. Satchidanandan, H. S. Shivaprakash, and Antara Dev Sen, who is identified in the supplied reference material as the current editor. Indian Literature publishes original poetry, short fiction, plays, literary essays, criticism, reviews, and translations. Its scope is not limited to one Indian language or region. Regular and occasional sections have examined developments in Bengali, Urdu, Odia, Assamese, and other literatures, while features on drama, stage production, award-winning books, and current publishing provide a broader account of literary culture. The journal also publishes material about literatures outside India and translations from foreign languages when relevant to its remit. A recurring review section began as “A Review of Current Writing” in 1957 and was renamed “Annual Review of Indian Writing” in 1965. Other continuing or recurring features have included author commentary on their own books, reviews of Sahitya Akademi Award recipients, and “Indian Literature in English,” an annual bibliography introduced in 1985 that records English translations from Indian languages alongside critical work on Indian literatures. The journal also publicizes selected Sahitya Akademi publications in its front and back matter. The publication has issued special numbers devoted to particular writers, genres, languages, or themes. Examples cited in the reference material include issues on Rabindranath Tagore, Shakespeare in India, Sri Aurobindo, the Urdu short story, and Oriya literature. In 2007, marking its fiftieth year, Sahitya Akademi presented Golden Jubilee Translation Awards associated with translations of the work of Baba Farid, an Odia poetry collection, and Assamese poetry by Parvati Prasad Barua. Indian Literature is best understood as an institutional literary periodical rather than a commercial consumer brand. Its identity is closely tied to Sahitya Akademi's public cultural mission: encouraging exchange among India's literary languages, supporting translation, preserving bibliographic and critical records, and presenting Indian writing to a wider readership. Its audience includes writers, translators, scholars, students, libraries, and readers interested in the diversity of Indian literary traditions.

Indian Literature was established by Sahitya Akademi in 1957, three years after the Akademi's creation. The proposal for a journal had been repeatedly raised at General Council meetings because members wanted a publication capable of reporting on literary activity in India and making writing from different Indian languages more accessible. The first issue was published in October 1957 as an annual English-language periodical. Its founding editorial board comprised S. Radhakrishnan, Humayun Kabir, and K. R. Kripalani, with Kripalani serving as editor. The journal's initial brief combined two responsibilities. It was intended to introduce Indian writers and readers to new literary work, particularly through translation, and it was also expected to record the activities of Sahitya Akademi. This dual role shaped the publication's identity: it functioned both as a literary magazine and as an institutional record of India's literary infrastructure. Early issues included Indian writing alongside selected contributions from writers outside India. From 1959, Indian Literature appeared twice a year. In 1965, its editorial structure developed further through the appointment of a designated editor alongside the editorial board, beginning with Bengali writer and translator Lokenath Bhattacharya. The journal became quarterly in 1966. Its review and survey functions also became more systematic. A section originally called “A Review of Current Writing” was retitled “Annual Review of Indian Writing” in 1965, reflecting an increasingly organized effort to track recent publications across Indian languages. The 1970s brought an explicit strengthening of the translation mission. Keshav Malik introduced prefatory editorial notes in 1973, while S. Balu Rao, who became editor in 1974, described a broader emphasis on translation to and from Indian languages. Editorial introductions subsequently became a regular feature. The journal also expanded its coverage through language-focused reviews, discussions of drama and stage work, author commentary, criticism, and reports on books recognized by Sahitya Akademi. Publication frequency increased again in 1979, when the journal began appearing every two months. Over time, it developed recurring features such as reviews of Sahitya Akademi Award-winning books, profiles of award recipients, language-specific literary surveys, and “Authors on their Books.” In 1985, it added “Indian Literature in English,” an annual bibliography covering translations from Indian languages and critical writing on Indian literatures. This bibliography reinforced the journal's role as a research aid as well as a literary publication. Indian Literature has also used special issues to concentrate attention on major writers, literary traditions, and themes. The reference material identifies issues on Rabindranath Tagore, Shakespeare in India, Sri Aurobindo, the Urdu short story, and Oriya literature. These issues demonstrate the journal's willingness to move between individual authors, genres, language traditions, and cross-cultural subjects. The journal marked its fiftieth year in 2007. For the Golden Jubilee, Sahitya Akademi presented translation awards to Rana Nayar for translations of verses by the Sikh saint Baba Farid, Tapan Kumar Pradhan for English translations of his own Odia collection “Kalahandi,” and Paromita Das for English translations of poems by Assamese poet Parvati Prasad Barua. The anniversary connected the journal's institutional history with its longstanding emphasis on literary translation. Its editorial and advisory history includes figures such as S. Radhakrishnan, Humayun Kabir, K. R. Kripalani, Zakir Hussain, Suniti Kumar Chatterji, K. R. Srinivasa Iyengar, Prabhakar Machwe, R. S. Kelkar, Umashankar Joshi, V. K. Gokak, Birendra Kumar Bhattacharya, Gangadhar Gadgil, Indra Nath Choudhuri, U. R. Ananthamurthy, Ramakanth Rath, Gopi Chand Narang, and Sunil Gangopadhyay. The journal remains associated with Sahitya Akademi and continues to publish English-language material representing the breadth of Indian literary culture.

• 2007

  Golden Jubilee

  [1]Indian Literature (journal)en.wikipedia.org

  The journal completed fifty years, and Sahitya Akademi presented Golden Jubilee Translation Awards to three translators.

• 1985

  Indian Literature in English introduced

  [1]Indian Literature (journal)en.wikipedia.org

  The journal introduced an annual bibliography of translations from Indian languages and critical studies of Indian literatures.

• 1979

  Journal becomes bimonthly

  [1]Indian Literature (journal)en.wikipedia.org

  The publication adopted a bimonthly schedule that reflects its expanded editorial scope.

• 1966

  Journal becomes quarterly

  [1]Indian Literature (journal)en.wikipedia.org

  Indian Literature increased its frequency to quarterly publication.

• 1965

  Designated editor introduced

  [1]Indian Literature (journal)en.wikipedia.org

  A designated editor was added alongside the editorial board, beginning with Lokenath Bhattacharya.

• 1959

  Publication becomes biannual

  [1]Indian Literature (journal)en.wikipedia.org

  The journal changed from annual to twice-yearly publication.

• 1957

  Journal launched

  [1]Indian Literature (journal)en.wikipedia.org

  Sahitya Akademi launched Indian Literature as an annual English-language journal to disseminate information about Indian literary developments, promote translation, and document the Akademi's work.

An institutional, multilingual literary forum that connects Indian-language writing with English-language readers through translation, criticism, documentation, and literary review.

• Literary journal · 1957

  Indian Literature

  The core publication is an English-language literary journal issued bimonthly. It publishes poetry, short fiction, plays, essays, literary criticism, book reviews, translations, language-specific surveys, and material documenting Sahitya Akademi activities. Its editorial remit emphasizes exchange among India's literary languages while also allowing selected international literary content.

• Literary review section · 1957

  Annual Review of Indian Writing

  This recurring review feature surveys recent writing and publishing in multiple Indian languages. It began as “A Review of Current Writing” and was renamed in 1965, becoming one of the journal's principal mechanisms for tracking contemporary Indian literary production.

• Bibliography · 1985

  Indian Literature in English

  Introduced in 1985, this annual feature records English translations from Indian languages together with critical works on Indian literatures. It serves researchers and readers seeking an organized account of how Indian writing circulates in English.

• 1985

  Bibliographic coverage expandedOther

  Background

  Readers and researchers needed a consolidated record of English translations and critical writing related to Indian literatures.

  Action taken

  The journal added the annual “Indian Literature in English” bibliography.

  Aftermath

  The publication strengthened its role as a reference resource in addition to its literary and critical functions.

  Source

• 1979

  Publication frequency increased to bimonthlyStrategy

  Background

  The journal had expanded its coverage through reviews, translations, language surveys, and documentation of literary activity.

  Action taken

  Indian Literature moved to a bimonthly publication schedule.

  Aftermath

  The journal established the bimonthly rhythm associated with its continuing publication.

  Source

• 1974

  Editorial scope reoriented toward translationStrategy

  Background

  The journal had always sought to make Indian writing accessible, but its early mission also included reporting Sahitya Akademi activities and general literary developments.

  Action taken

  Editor S. Balu Rao articulated a stronger focus on translations to and from Indian languages, and editorial introductions became a regular part of the publication.

  Aftermath

  Translation became an increasingly visible organizing principle of the journal's identity and coverage.

  Source

1. 1Indian Literature (journal)en.wikipedia.org
2. 2Sahitya Akademisahitya-akademi.gov.in