Abstract

The vision of a developed India by 2047 envisages a prosperous, inclusive, and globally influential India by the centenary of India’s independence. Literature is not just a creative work of art; it is an essential cultural and political tool when imagining community, constructing identity, and co-constructing the future. This review paper examines how Indian-English literature has contributed to nation-building, cultural consciousness, and identity formation from its colonial beginnings to the present, Priyamvad Gopal, Vinay Dharwadkar, Harish Trivedi, Sangeeta Ray, Dirk Wyman, Neelam Srivastava, Michelle Superlee, Mahavir D. Rao, and others. Drawing on recent scholarly articles by A. Shankar, Usha Sahu, Kalpana Rajput, and Chandan Prasad, this paper brings together critical perspectives on the Indian-English historical construction and narrative of the nation: literature, gender nationalism, modern genres, anthologies, children’s literature, and identity politics. Its methodological approach is both analytical and historiographical. It explores the interaction of literature and national consciousness in colonial and post-colonial contexts and evaluates the role of literature in the cultural vision of 2047. The paper argues that Indian-English literature describes the nation in various ways and provides intellectual resources. Understanding these literary contributions is essential for policymakers, academics, and scholars working towards the long-term goal of a developed India.