Epistemic Changes in Literary Studies: A Contemporary Reappraisal for the Present Generation

Abstract

Literary studies have undergone significant epistemic transformations over the past century, moving beyond aesthetic appreciation towards interdisciplinary, politically conscious, and culturally grounded modes of inquiry. This paper examines the epistemic shifts within literary studies with special reference to Indian literary texts, aligning with contemporary academic expectations in UGC and Scopus-indexed journals. By incorporating case studies from Indian English and regional literature—particularly the works of Mahasweta Devi, Arundhati Roy, and Bama—the paper demonstrates how literary knowledge production has evolved to foreground marginal voices, challenge canonical authority, and interrogate power structures. The study argues that present-generation literary scholarship is marked by ethical engagement, cultural specificity, and social responsibility, reflecting a decisive departure from Eurocentric and purely formalist paradigms.