Margins to Mainstream: Representations of Power and Identity in Selected Indian English Novels

Abstract

Indian English fiction has emerged as a significant literary space for exploring the complex relationship between power, identity, and marginalization in postcolonial society. As India continues to undergo rapid social, economic, and cultural transformations, questions of inclusion, exclusion, and representation have gained renewed importance. This paper examines how selected Indian English novels represent the movement from marginality to mainstream visibility, focusing on the negotiation of power and identity among historically disadvantaged individuals and communities. Through an analysis of Kiran Desai’s The Inheritance of Loss, Arundhati Roy’s The God of Small Things, and Aravind Adiga’s The White Tiger, the study explores how these texts portray struggles against social hierarchies rooted in class, caste, gender, and economic inequality. Drawing on postcolonial theory and cultural studies, the paper argues that these novels challenge dominant narratives of progress and nationhood by foregrounding marginalized voices and highlighting the ethical implications of social mobility. While the protagonists seek recognition and empowerment, their journeys reveal the limitations and contradictions of mainstream inclusion. The study demonstrates that contemporary Indian English fiction functions as a critical medium for interrogating power structures and reimagining identity in an unequal society.