Echoes of the Eternal: Representations of Spirituality in Indian English Literature

Abstract

Spirituality has always remained at the heart of Indian cultural expression, shaping art, philosophy, and literature across centuries. Indian English literature, positioned at the intersection of indigenous traditions and global modernity, becomes a unique site where the spiritual quest finds diverse representations. This paper examines how Indian English writers—ranging from Rabindranath Tagore and Sri Aurobindo to R.K. Narayan, Raja Rao, Anita Desai, and Arundhati Roy—have engaged with spirituality not merely as religious sentiment but as a profound exploration of identity, transcendence, and cultural memory. Drawing on close textual readings, philosophical frameworks, and comparative perspectives, the study analyzes how spirituality evolves across time, from mystical devotion to fragmented secular reflections in contemporary works. The paper also considers gendered voices, narrative strategies, and cultural implications of spirituality in Indian English writing. Findings highlight that while spirituality shifts in form and intensity across periods, it continues to echo the eternal human search for meaning.