A Fusion of Tradition and Modernity in Indian English Poetry : A Study of P.Lal

Sapna Meena; Dr. Anurag Sharma

A Fusion of Tradition and Modernity in Indian English Poetry : A Study of P.Lal

Author(s)	Sapna Meena, Dr. Anurag Sharma
Country	India
Abstract	Poetry praising Indian culture has thrived through the integration of local cultures and contemporary literary genres. The literary works of Purushottam Lal (P.Lal) lies somewhere in between the tradition and the modern social landscapes. This paper examines the manner in which he blends Indian myth, spiritual philosophy and classical aesthetic theory with modern poetical style. It seeks to reappraise his contribution to establishing a confident, independent voice that Indian English poetry has. This discussion is based on the close readings of the chosen short works and major works by P.Lal. It takes into account the current responses of the critics and places his works in the larger comparative context of Indian English poetry. The paper demonstrates that P.Lal reinterprets such works as the Mahabharata, the Bhagavad Gita, and the Theory of Rasa in contemporary free-verse forms. He is not just an imitator of tradition; he is a refiner of it to address the modern sensibility. Rather frequent mental pictures of nature, roses, birds, rain and sky are also used in his poetic language. Through these pictures, he leads his readers out of the physical world into deeper spiritual contemplation. His style is definite, sparse and faintly musical with a prayer-like sound or rather meditative effect. With this amalgamation, P.Lal forms poetry that is positioned in the Indian thought yet able to experiment with modernity. However, his works are criticised for repetitive motifs and some structural laxity, which lulls the intensity of some of his poems. Nevertheless, even with these disproportionate incidents, P.Lal can be remembered as a great poet, one who connects classical Indian aesthetics with contemporary practise. He demonstrates that tradition can be reorganised and redefined instead of being thrown away. Foregrounding myth, rasa, and lyric form, he carves a form of writing that is contemporary but incredibly Indian. This paper places him as a cultural facilitator whose poetry presents a conscious, purposeful vision of grounded Indian English poetry.
Keywords	Indian English Poetry; Cultural Mediation; Modern Free Verse; Myth and Spirituality; Tradition and Modernity; P.Lal.
Field	Arts
Published In	Volume 8, Issue 4, July-August 2026
Published On	2026-08-05

View / Download PDF File

About IJFMR Fees & Payment Current Issue Publication Archive	Submit Research Paper Track Submission Status Publication Guidelines Publication Ethics Peer Review & Plagiarism	Join as a Reviewer Editors & Reviewers Reviewer Referral Program Get Reviewer Membership Certi.	Website/Journal Policies Usage Policy Content Policies Privacy Policy

Contact Us		+91-9687-828-838	editor@ijfmr.com

International Journal For Multidisciplinary Research

A Widely Indexed Open Access Peer Reviewed Multidisciplinary Bi-monthly Scholarly International Journal

A Fusion of Tradition and Modernity in Indian English Poetry : A Study of P.Lal

Share this