| Summary/Abstract |
This article examines a particular body of post-millennial fiction in English from India whose narratives draw significantly on Hindu epics and the historical contexts of early Bharat. This body of fiction includes works by Amish Tripathi, Nilanjan P. Choudhury, Ashwin Sanghi amongst others, and I refer to this writing as ‘Bharati Fantasy’ (my term). The article deals with how this new body of fiction might be received in the global literary market as well as how it is received in the domestic market given that some of these novels are ‘for sale in India only’. The article postulates how genre categorisation might affect an Indian writer's presence in the global literary market. Furthermore, it looks at how important it is to be present in such global markets, and considers how the domestic market of India provides a readership and marketing arena which are significantly self-sustaining and independent of the global literary markets. The popularity of ventures in India such as the Jaipur and Bangalore literature festivals, the recent launch of Doordarshan's ‘Kitaabnama' and hunger for ‘popular’ literature by a readership with enhanced disposable income suggest that home-grown talent is increasingly well celebrated and appreciated at home.
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