A Study on Indian Pulp-Fiction in English and Its Need for Literary Acknowledgement

Abstract

The phrase, ‘Pulp Fiction’, connotes to the literature printed on cheap quality pulp paper. Actually, the fascination towards Indian pulp-fiction in English edifies amazing progress sustained by the adroitness of the pulp fiction writers who aspire to persist on the interests of their avid readers. In fact, these writers have to rack their brains to secure their popularity and good will amidst their readers by catering to their challenging interests or expectation in making their choice of the pulp fiction at every purchase. Factually speaking, literature created in a specific period by nature, reflects the societal set up and its demands of that period. Undoubtedly, this aspect of literature not only enriches the self-comprehensiveness of its readers but also seizes their absolute interest towards it. Considering these fundamental purposes of creating literature as the significant parameters to validate a literary piece, this article reinstates the standards of a select few Indian English pulp fictions produced recently by the emerging writers like Chetan Bhagat, Ashwin Sanghi, Ravinder Singh, Durjoy Dutta and Nikita Singh. Literature produced in the past even exhibit evidences for having focused on its commercial progress similar to that of recent Indian pulp fiction in English. Therefore, the commercial approach of the best selling Indian English pulp fiction shall not be misinterpreted for its lacuna of literary standards. While, the pulp fictions of Chetan Bhagat and Ravinder Singh climb to the next level of producing box office hits as feature films, why not a space be created for this genre of pulp fiction with a set of elevated literary norms. Consideration of the pulp fiction as an additional genre in Indian English shall definitely unveil an arena of scope for emerging writers of the future.