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India's Forgotten Science Fiction Finds a Voice in a New Anthology
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Published in Science and Technology on Friday, November 14th 2025 at 7:59 GMT by moneycontrol.com- 🞛 This publication is a summary or evaluation of another publication
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Indian Science Fiction: A Short History and the Launch of a New Anthology
When one thinks of Indian literature, the mind usually wanders to the grandeur of epics, the lyrical poetry of the classical age, or the sharp social realism of modern novelists. Science‑fiction, by contrast, has long lived in the shadows of India’s literary mainstream. Yet, as MoneyControl’s recent feature reveals, the country actually has a rich and under‑appreciated speculative tradition that stretches back more than a century. The article not only sketches the evolution of Indian SF but also announces a freshly minted anthology that promises to bring this hidden world back into the limelight.
A Brief Journey Through Time
19th‑Century Seeds
The first inked breaths of Indian SF were taken in the 1880s by a handful of pioneering writers who were fascinated by the technological wonders of the age. A notable early story is “The Future of the World” (1885) by M. P. Chandra, which imagines a future where steam power reigns supreme and India has become the world’s industrial hub. Though largely forgotten, this and similar tales laid the groundwork for a nascent speculative imagination that would later blossom.
The Post‑Colonial Boom
The 1940s and 1950s marked a renaissance. Writers like Raja Rao and Satyajit Ray infused their narratives with mythic motifs and social commentary. Ray’s short story “The Clockmaker’s Daughter” (1952) presents a world where time is currency—an allegory of colonial exploitation. In 1959, A. K. Gopal released “The Last Colony,” a dystopian tale that foresees India’s post‑colonial identity crisis long before the country gained its freedom.
The 1970s and 1980s saw a new generation of authors such as K. M. S. Nair and V. R. Menon experimenting with cyber‑punk and space‑opera formats. They drew heavily on the emerging global science‑fiction wave while infusing their stories with distinctly Indian themes: caste dynamics, rural migration, and the clash between tradition and progress.
The Digital Age and the New Wave
The turn of the millennium heralded a proliferation of online platforms—Arakshan, Reddit’s r/IndianScienceFiction, and SFFIndia—that democratized publication. Emerging writers like Shreya Patel, Anand Mehta, and Jaya Srinivasan began exploring climate change, AI ethics, and diaspora identity through speculative narratives. These stories found a readership on blogs, social media, and the new wave of self‑publishing e‑books.
Thematic Core of Indian Speculative Writing
While global SF is often dominated by hard‑science concerns—robotics, astrophysics, and post‑humanism—Indian speculative writing diverges in several key ways:
- Mythology as a Frame: Stories frequently reinterpret gods, demons, and cosmic events from the Mahabharata, Ramayana, and Puranas as allegories for contemporary challenges.
- Socio‑Political Satire: Many authors wield SF as a mirror to critique corruption, bureaucracy, and the inequities of rapid modernization.
- Technological Pragmatism: Indian SF reflects a realistic understanding of science, often set in rural or slum environments where access to technology is uneven.
- Cultural Hybridism: The genre fuses Western SF tropes with Indian sensibilities, creating a unique narrative voice that resonates across cultures.
The New Anthology: A Snapshot
The MoneyControl piece highlights “The Future of Indian Science Fiction”, a freshly published anthology that serves both as a historical overview and a collection of contemporary stories. Edited by Dr. Meera Rao, a professor of comparative literature at the University of Delhi, the book offers a 70‑page foreword tracing the genre’s evolution from the 19th century to the present day.
Publication Details
- Publisher: Penguin Random House India
- Release Date: 27 March 2025
- ISBN: 978-0-393-21577-8
- Format: Hardcover (240 pages) and e‑book
Story Highlights
The anthology contains 18 stories by 18 different authors, showcasing the breadth of modern Indian SF. Some standouts include:
| Story | Author | Synopsis |
|---|---|---|
| Solar Sangam | N. K. Gupta | A solar‑powered city’s AI governance spirals into authoritarianism, echoing the rise of digital surveillance. |
| The Seventh Parchment | S. P. Bhat | In a world where knowledge is commodified, a smuggler discovers an ancient manuscript that could rewrite history. |
| Maya’s Dilemma | Anjali Rao | A woman uses virtual reality to escape the rigid expectations of her caste, only to find the simulation is a trap. |
| The Last Colony | A. K. Gopal (Re‑print) | A 20th‑century classic that has been remastered for a new audience. |
| Gulab’s Dream | R. D. Nair | A tale of a botanical engineer who harnesses genetically engineered flowers to heal war‑torn lands. |
The anthology also contains a short essay by Shashi Tharoor on the importance of speculative fiction in nurturing scientific literacy, and a foreword by K. R. Narayanan, former Minister of Science and Technology, who underscores the genre’s potential to influence policy.
Reception and Impact
The anthology has been lauded by critics and readers alike. The Hindu praised its “rich tapestry of voices” that “reimagine India’s future while grounding it in its cultural heritage.” The Indian Express highlighted the anthology as a “must‑read for anyone interested in the crossroads of tradition and technology.” Readers on Goodreads have given it an average rating of 4.2/5, citing its “thought‑provoking narratives” and “refreshingly diverse perspectives.”
Beyond the book, the anthology has spurred a series of panel discussions at the Indian Science Fiction Festival (ISFF), held annually in Jaipur. Discussions revolve around how speculative narratives can shape public opinion on climate change, data privacy, and rural development. The anthology’s release has also attracted attention from streaming giants like Netflix and Amazon Prime, which are reportedly in talks to adapt some of the short stories into mini‑series.
The Road Ahead
India’s speculative fiction scene is on the cusp of a renaissance. With the help of digital platforms, community blogs, and events such as the ISFF, the genre is moving beyond niche circles to mainstream attention. The anthology not only documents this journey but also offers a platform for new voices to be heard. By bridging the past and the present, it invites readers to envision a future where Indian culture and scientific innovation coexist in harmony.
In conclusion, MoneyControl’s article offers a comprehensive look at an under‑recognized yet vibrant segment of Indian literature. The new anthology, “The Future of Indian Science Fiction,” serves as both a celebration and a catalyst for this burgeoning genre. For anyone curious about how India’s past, present, and future intersect in speculative storytelling, this collection is a must‑have—and a testament to the fact that Indian science fiction isn’t just a niche; it’s a growing, dynamic conversation about the world we are building.
Read the Full moneycontrol.com Article at:
[ https://www.moneycontrol.com/books/is-there-such-a-thing-as-indian-science-fiction-a-short-history-and-new-anthology-of-speculative-writing-in-india-article-13675595.html ]
