60 Indian Poets

60 Indian Poets is an anthology edited by Jeet Thayil that showcases post-Independence English-language poetry from India. The collection spans multiple generations of poets, from established names to emerging voices. The book includes works from poets across different regions of India and the Indian diaspora, presenting diverse perspectives and styles. Each poet's section contains a biographical note and a curated selection of their representative works. The anthology's scope extends beyond traditional themes of Indian identity and colonialism to include contemporary urban experiences, personal narratives, and experimental forms. Through this collection, Thayil maps the evolution and current state of Indian poetry in English, highlighting both its roots in tradition and its modern transformations.

Indian poetry readers found this anthology provides good coverage of both established and emerging poets writing in English. Positive reviews mention the inclusion of lesser-known contemporary voices alongside familiar names. Liked: - Comprehensive introduction for each featured poet - Mix of traditional and experimental styles - Strong representation of younger/newer poets - Quality of English translations Disliked: - Some felt certain major poets were omitted - Criticism that it focuses too heavily on Mumbai/Delhi writers - Limited regional diversity - Several readers wanted more context about Indian poetry movements Ratings: Goodreads: 4.1/5 (51 ratings) Amazon India: 4.2/5 (16 ratings) A reader on Goodreads noted: "The biographical notes help place each poet in context, though I wish there was more discussion of their influence on Indian literature." Another commented: "Good starting point but needs more voices from other regions beyond the metros."

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The Oxford Anthology of Modern Indian Poetry by Vinay Dharwadker and A.K. Ramanujan This anthology presents translations of works from 14 modern Indian languages alongside English-language Indian poetry.

The Harper Collins Book of English Poetry by Sudeep Sen This compilation brings together 85 contemporary Indian poets who write in English, documenting the development of Indian-English verse from the 1950s onward.

Eating God: A Book of Bhakti Poetry by Arundhati Subramaniam This collection translates works of medieval Indian mystic poets from various regional languages into English, connecting historical devotional verse to contemporary poetic expression.

The Golden Treasury of Writers Workshop Poetry by Rubana Huq This anthology compiles works from India's longest-running poetry publishing house, featuring poets who shaped the landscape of Indian English poetry from 1958 to present.

🔖 Jeet Thayil spent over a decade compiling and editing this anthology, making it one of the most comprehensive collections of modern Indian poetry in English. 🖋️ The book includes poets from across several generations, from Nissim Ezekiel (born 1924) to younger voices like Tishani Doshi (born 1975), spanning over 50 years of Indian poetry. 📚 Jeet Thayil himself is an acclaimed poet and novelist who won the DSC Prize for South Asian Literature and was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize for his novel "Narcopolis." 🌏 The anthology challenges the traditional notion that Indian writing must deal with "Indian" themes, showcasing works that range from deeply personal to globally universal subjects. 📖 Many of the featured poets, including Dom Moraes, Adil Jussawalla, and Arun Kolatkar, were part of the influential Bombay Poetry Circle, which shaped modern Indian poetry in English during the 1960s and 70s.