Question

Given below are two statements: Assertion (A): Indian English literature began long before India's independence. Reason (R): Before 1947, there were no Indian writers in English. Choose the most appropriate answer.

• A. Both (A) and (R) are correct and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
• B. Both (A) and (R) are correct but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
• C. (A) is correct but (R) is not correct.
• D. (A) is not correct but (R) is correct.

Hint:

Indian English literature started before independence; the pre-independence period includes several major Indian English writers.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Understanding the Question:

• This question consists of an Assertion (A) and a Reason (R) concerning the history of Indian English Literature.

• We need to evaluate the historical accuracy of both statements independently and then determine if there is a causal relationship.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:

• Evaluating Assertion (A): Indian English literature indeed has a long history that predates India's independence in 1947. The earliest writings by Indians in English date back to the late 18th and early 19th centuries. For example, Sake Dean Mahomet published “The Travels of Dean Mahomet” in 1794, which is widely recognized as the first book written by an Indian in English. Thus, Assertion (A) is correct.

• Evaluating Reason (R): The statement claims there were no Indian writers in English before 1947. This is factually incorrect. Many famous Indian writers wrote extensively in English before independence, including Toru Dutt, Sarojini Naidu, Rabindranath Tagore, Mulk Raj Anand, R.K. Narayan, and Raja Rao.

• For instance, R.K. Narayan published his debut novel “Swami and Friends” in 1935, Mulk Raj Anand published “Untouchable” in 1935, and Raja Rao published “Kanthapura” in 1938. These works are foundational pillars of Indian English fiction and were all published well before 1947.

• Since Assertion (A) is true but Reason (R) is false, the correct combination is represented by Option (C).

Step 3: Final Answer:
The correct option is (C).