Three Indian Poets: Ezekiel, Moraes, and Ramanujan

Three Indian Poets introduces the poetry of Nissim Ezekiel, Dom Moraes, and A.K. Ramanujan—three of the best-known and most significant of modern Indian poets who wrote in English—to students and teachers of Indian literature. Considered to be the founders of modern Indian poetry in English, they became the first post-colonial poets writing in English who commanded international attention. This updated edition of Three Indian Poets was brought out after the deaths of Ezekiel and Moraes in 2005.

Beginning with a valuable critical introduction, the book then discusses Ezekiel, whose poetry has deeply influenced and expanded the cultural space for modern Indian poetry in English. Next, Bruce King studies the poetry of Ramanujan, who was the only poet among the three who wrote in Indian languages as well. Finally, King analyses the poetry of Moraes, who, in his themes and attitudes, was the most romantic and sentimental, and least concerned with India and Indianness.

Three Indian Poets is a comprehensive study of the similarities as well as differences between Ezekiel, Ramanujan, and Moraes. By re-considering and re-presenting the poetry of these diverse poets, the book captures the poetic and literary consciousness of post-colonial India.

This book is an introduction to the poetry of Nissim Ezekiel, Dom Moraes, and A. K. Ramanujan, three of the best-known and most significant of Indian poets writing in English. Often considered the founders of modern poetry in English they became the first post-colonial poets commanding international attention. All three poets have passed away since the first edition (1991) and this volume tries to assess their poetic legacy.

All of them had their distinct styles of expression. Ezekiel aimed at preciseness of image, conciseness and exactness of language, feeling, and poetic form. A large proportion of the significant history of modern Indian poetry in English was made by or has some connection with him. He greatly expanded the cultural space for modern poetry and for the modern arts. Ramanujan was very much a modern poet, instinctively ironic, and had a mind packed with a wide variety of ideas and information. A trilingual poet, he was influenced by Indian poetry and poetics. His work is rich in images and cultural echoes, ironies, allusions, and references. They bring to mind associations from more than one culture and historical periods. His poems are marvels of technique and blend the psychological with the philosophical. Dom Moraes is, in his themes and attitudes, the most romantic and sentimental and least concerned with India and Indianness. An excellent technician, he has exceptional talent in his feel for words and sounds. He has a liking for older verse forms, dictions, and attitudes. The pain of an unusual, isolated childhood and insecurity in England find expression in his poems. What is most noticeable about his poetry, however, is the love of poetry as seen in the echoes of earlier poems, the use of earlier conventions, the delight in language and sound, and dedications to other poets.

Bruce King is a well-known authority on Commonwealth and seventeenth-century English literature and has taught in many universities across the world. He lives in Paris and is the author of several books.