LANGUAGE IN INDIA

Strength for Today and Bright Hope for Tomorrow

Volume 25:6 June 2025
ISSN 1930-2940

Editors:
         Sam Mohanlal, Ph.D.
         B. Mallikarjun, Ph.D.
         A. R. Fatihi, Ph.D.
         G. Baskaran, Ph.D.
         T. Deivasigamani, Ph.D.
         Pammi Pavan Kumar, Ph.D.
         Soibam Rebika Devi, M.Sc., Ph.D.

Managing Co-Editors & Publishers: Selvi M. Bunce, M.A., Ph.D. Candidate and Nathan Mulder Bunce, M.A., Ph.D. Candidate
Published monthly in honor of M.S. Thirumalai, Ph.D. (1940-2025)

Celebrate India!
Unity in Diversity!!

HOME PAGE

Click Here for Back Issues of Language in India - From 2001

Poetic Encounter
Available in https://www.amazon.in/dp/B09TT86S4T

Poems
Naked: the honest browsings of two brown women
Available in https://www.amazon.in

Decrees
Available in https://www.amazon.com

BOOKS FOR YOU TO READ AND DOWNLOAD FREE!

REFERENCE MATERIALS

BACK ISSUES

  • E-mail your articles and book-length reports in Microsoft Word to languageinindiaUSA@gmail.com.

  • PLEASE READ THE GUIDELINES GIVEN IN HOME PAGE IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE LIST OF CONTENTS.

  • Your articles and book-length reports should be written following the APA, MLA, LSA, or IJDL Stylesheet.

  • The Editorial Board has the right to accept, reject, or suggest modifications to the articles submitted for publication, and to make suitable stylistic adjustments. High quality, academic integrity, ethics and morals are expected from the authors and discussants.

Copyright © 2025
M. S. Thirumalai

Publisher: Selvi M. Bunce, M.A., Ed.D. Candidate and Nathan Mulder Bunce, M.A., Ph.D. Candidate
11249 Oregon Circle
Bloomington, MN 55438
USA
Custom Search

Voices of Imagination: Celebrating Women Writers in Children's Literature

Dr. Anjali Verma

Abstract

The area of women in children's literature has a wide scope since India is a secular state with diverse languages and cultures. Every region and language has its own history of children's literature while translations are another area of studies. Therefore, multi-linguistic nation has tremendous scope for translations. Apart from regional languages, English is also widely used in India and translations of western children's literature into Indian languages are highly popular. Similarly, regional literature has many stories to tell and are often translated to many languages. There are also writers who write exclusively in English. Their works are original indigenous works in English. These writers are like mirrors reflecting the Indian society, culture and its people.

The area of children's literature is now largely populated by women writers and women writers now outnumber men in this field. Today there are many NRI women writers who write about Indian subjects. As the contribution of women to children's literature grows, so does the necessity of studying their works. The paucity of criticism in children?s literature in India urges for more study in this field.

Keywords: children's literature, regional literature, female writers, Indian literature

Introduction

The fascinating world of children's literature is a less explored field of literature. Since women have been considered by many as natural story tellers, it is interesting to study their work. Children's literature did not exist as a separate field of study in India for a long time. The ancient text Panchatantra which consists of fables was told to children orally. Though written for adults, it has continued to be popular with children. The term children?s literature is a western concept. From the post-colonial period to the early 1990s, children were exposed to western fiction. Many generations grew up reading Mark Twain, Charles Dickens, Louis Carol and Enid Blyton. Among the works in India, Anant Pai's Amar Chitra Katha and Twinkle comics are very popular.

Literature is a reflection of life. The same thought can be extended to children's literature. The life of children is reflected in children's literature. Minds are moulded when they are young. Family is the first institution where children learn to talk, communicate, read and write. Education of the child is considered one of the major aspects of development. Children like to play, imagine, are enthusiastic and energetic. The colourful thoughts of children can be given wings through children's literature so that children may go on a journey to imaginary lands. Apart from that, children?s literature may mould lives through inspiration and creativity. Children's literature plays a vital role in crafting the minds of children.

This is only the beginning part of the article. PLEASE CLICK HERE TO READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE IN PRINTER-FRIENDLY VERSION.

Dr. Anjali Verma
Associate Professor Department of English, Smt.MMK College of Commerce and Economics Mumbai, India
drarver@yahoo.com
Custom Search
  • Click Here to Go to Creative Writing Section

  • Send your articles
    as an attachment
    to your e-mail to
    languageinindiaUSA@gmail.com.
  • Please ensure that your name, academic degrees, institutional affiliation and institutional address, and your e-mail address are all given in the first page of your article. Also include a declaration that your article or work submitted for publication in LANGUAGE IN INDIA is an original work by you and that you have duly acknowledged the work or works of others you used in writing your articles, etc. Remember that by maintaining academic integrity we not only do the right thing but also help the growth, development and recognition of Indian/South Asian scholarship.