by Jeet Thayil
First published 2008
Jeet Thayil presents poetry that crosses five and a half decades of Indian writing in English. The collection connects poets across continents and generations, drawing from voices that stretch traditional boundaries of what defines Indian identity. Thayil gathers work that challenges narrow conceptions of cultural belonging, including poets who write from India and those in diaspora communities worldwide. The anthology traces how Indian poets have used English as a medium for exploring identity, place, and belonging across multiple generations. Through this diverse selection, Thayil demonstrates how Indian poetry in English has evolved and expanded, showing readers the breadth of voices that contribute to this literary tradition.
Genres: anthologies, poetry, 21st-century, asian-american
Vibes: emotional, intimate, lyrical, thought-provoking
Tropes: diverse-voices, found-family, identity-exploration
Setting: India
Period: 20th-century, 21st-century
414 pages · Paperback · Penguin Books India