Indian writing

I was delighted to see another entry from India come in recently. Few countries can point to such a rich and vibrant storytelling tradition.

Many countries can track their storytelling traditions back to ancient times but what makes India special is the way so many different influences interweaved with each other, even from early times, to provide a melting pot of creativity.

Yes, many other countries can point to similar ancient histories but India’s position on important trade routes meant that, from very early on, it was a very diverse culture and had a strong sense of the wider world.

Storytelling has always been an important way in which diverse cultures find a voice and, if you look at the history of Indian storytelling, there has long been a beguiling mix of history, religion, myth and fantasy. The result has been truly fabulous stories.

Of course, modern Indian writers seek to reflect their views of modern life but they are also influenced - consciously and sub-consciously - by that rich tradition. You can see that in the way many of the country’s writers draw on the past in their stories.

Here at the Global Short Story Competition, we always welcome the arrival of entries from India because they invariably provide inventive ways of telling stories. Indeed, we would love to receive more entries from India and the other countries in that part of the world.
John Dean