Literary historiography and canon formation in Indian languages: a critical inquiry
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.64171/JAES.1.2.87-91Keywords:
Literary historiography, Canon formation, Indian languages, Literary pluralism, Postcolonial critique, Cultural capital, Inclusive literary historyAbstract
This essay highlights the intricate interactions between language, culture, and sociopolitical institutions by critically analysing the evolution of literary historiography and the processes of canon construction in Indian languages. Indian literary history has historically been told through selected frameworks that marginalize vernacular, oral, and subaltern literatures while favouring dominant language and socioeconomic groupings. The study shows how institutional, ideological, and educational systems have shaped which texts are canonized and why by following the historical paths of literary historiography from colonial to postcolonial eras. The issues of modernity, globalization, and multilingual literary pluralism are also examined in the article, with a focus on the necessity of an inclusive, critical historiographical approach that acknowledges various literary modernities and varied aesthetic traditions. The study makes the case for a rethinking of canon construction that is egalitarian, reflexive, and sensitive to historically excluded voices by drawing on theoretical viewpoints from cultural capital, postcolonial critique, and comparative literature studies. The study shows that literary historiography is a dynamic process that influences cultural memory, identity, and literary value rather than just being a record of texts. The study suggests a form of literary history that is dialogic, plural, and sensitive to India’s diverse linguistic and cultural terrain by emphasizing inclusivity and critical interaction. In addition to improving our knowledge of Indian literature, this method offers a framework for reconsidering the canon of literature in ways that promote justice, diversity, and cross-cultural communication.
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