Contested Histories in Contemporary Travel Writing on India

This book is a study of contemporary travel writing as a contested field of political and historical articulations. It poses the question of the relevance of the travel form in a world that is both flagrantly unequal and extensively mapped. The book demonstrates how contemporary travel writing negotiates with the changing conditions of travel, and identifies history as an important trope and theme in this negotiation. The work critically examines the writings of acclaimed travel writers like VS Naipaul, William Dalrymple, Amitav Ghosh, Sudeep Chakravarti, and Alice Albinia. Each of these writers is chosen for their distinct historical perspectives and political stances on Indian and South Asian politics. Moreover, it meticulously examines how these authors interpret and engage with the socio-political realities of post-independence India through the optics of travel. The book offers a comprehensive exploration of how ethical interests, historical orientations, and critical political insights converge to shape contemporary travel writing. By illuminating the complex interplay of travel, politics, and history, the book sheds light on the dynamics of representation and narrative construction within the travel genre.